The opera ‘‘Ernani’’ was performed on this Wednesday afternoon, February 13 th as part of the program ‘‘Music on the image’’ that takes place in the Latin American Cultural Centre located on Malecon Avenue between Prado and Capdevila, in the city of Havana.

The play by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, whose centenannial is marked this year, is a production of the New York Metropolitan Opera House, with the outstanding performance of great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, along with soprano Leona Mitchell, baritone Sherill Milnes, bass-baritone Rugiero Raimondi, and the participation of the chorus and orchestra of MET, conducted by James Levine.

The opera had its premiere at ‘‘La Fenice’’ Theatre, in Venice, on March 9, 1844. It was based on the theatrical and outstanding play of Victor Hugo (Hernani, in French) and introduced by Romanticism in Paris, which displaced the French Classic Theatre standards at the time.

The story took place in Spain and Aachen, where there was an old enmity between the Habsburgs and the Dukes of Aragon at time of King Carlos V in 1519. A duke had been killed, but his son could escape: since then, he toured the country with the name of Ernani stirring up people against King Carlos, who wanted to be crowned, Emperor. They both, the King and the rebel, fell in love with Elvira, the daughter of noble Silva, who also had the intention to marry his young niece. Thus, the story of this play and opera emerged from the rivalry of these personalities.

"Ernani" is a romantic opera in the literal sense of the word, which could be questionable nowadays but was perfectly credible in the earlier times of romanticism. It is simple and with its well displayed melodies delighted us on this Wednesday evening in the Cuban capital, expressing feelings like honor, love, challenge and betrayal. (By Lizandra Amat Consuegra)