Don Carlo is not the central figure in Verdi’s “Ernani,” but he makes the strongest impression in the current revival at the Metropolitan Opera. That’s because Placido Domingo (playing the role, written for a baritone) again shows off his still potent vocal talent and magnetism.
The title character is a sort of Robin Hood bandit, and he, along with the other male leads, is in love with Elvira. However, by the end, the only victor in this melodrama is the Spanish code of honor. Enrico Caruso once quipped that it is easy to put on “Il Trovatore.” “All you need are the world’s four best singers.” The same might be said of this earlier work.
The third act basically belongs to Domingo.
