Maria Stuarda is an Italian opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti , libretto by Giuseppe Bardari , after Friedrich Schiller 's play Maria Stuart , it was first performed in Naples , on October 18,1834 , under the name of Buondelmonte due to censorship problems , and in its original version in Milan , on December 30 , 1835 . Maria Stuarda ( Mary Stuart ) is a tragic opera , ( tragedia lirica ) , in two acts , by Gaetano Donizetti , to a libretto by Giuseppe Bardari , based on Friedrich von Schiller 's 1800 play Maria Stuart . It premiered on 30 December 1835 at La Scala , Milan .