Set in 16thcentury France and Spain Don Carlos tells of the political and amorous rivalry between King Philip II and his son Don Carlos over Elisabeth de Valois Krzysztof Warlikowski strips down a tragedy haunted by ghosts and places the intimate at the heart of an imaginary fresco truer than history itself Along with Philippe Jordan he reveals to the public the very first version of this great fiveact opera the version modified by Verdi himself for the works first performance in 1867