Lucia di Lammermoor

*Lucia di Lammermoor*
Lucia di Lammermoor
by Gaetano Donizetti
	Donizetti, about 1830
Genre	Opera in 3 acts
Librettist	Salvatore Cammarano
Language	Italian
Premiere	Naples, Italy; September 26, 1835
Other	Operas by Donizetti

Lucia di Lammermoor is an Italian opera in three acts. Salvatore Cammarano wrote the libretto (story and words). Gaetano Donizetti wrote the music. The opera is based on Sir Walter Scott's novel, The Bride of Lammermoor.

The opera was first performed on September 26, 1835 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy. Fanny Tacchinardi-Persiani played the title role. The opera is celebrated for the sextet "Chi mi frena" and Lucia's lengthy Mad Scene, a technically and dramatically demanding double-aria tour de force. The opera was a great success. Every number received a tremendous ovation. Donizetti and the cast were called forth for numerous curtain calls.^[1] The opera is number 19 on the Operabase list of the most performed operas worldwide.^[2]

Characters

Prelude to Lucia di Lammermoor

(Left) Donizetti about 1835

Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Lucia, an aristocratic young woman in love with Edgardo (soprano)
Edgardo di Ravenswood, Lucia's beloved (tenor)
Enrico Ashton, Lucia's brother (baritone)
Arturo Bucklaw, a rich lord and Lucia's bridgegroom (tenor)
Raimondo Bidebent, a Calvinist chaplain (bass)
Alisa, Lucia's maid (mezzo-soprano)
Normanno, Enrico's retainer (tenor)

Story

Fanny Tacchinardi-Persiani, the first Lucia

Background. The story is set in the early 18th century at Lammermoor Castle in Scotland. Two noble families — the Ashtons and the Ravenswoods — are bitter enemies. They have very nearly exterminated one another with constant warring. Enrico Ashton is almost broke. He has arranged a marriage for Lucia with a rich man. He hopes this marriage will relieve his money troubles. He is aware however that Lucia is in love Edgardo Ravenswood.

Act One. Normanno and others search the castle gardens for an intruder. They believe it is Edgardo on his way to meet Lucia. Enrico has marriage plans for Lucia, and vows to end her affair with his mortal enemy. Lucia waits for Edgardo in another part of the garden. She says she has seen the ghost of a maiden who died for love. Her maid believes this is a bad omen. Edgardo enters. He tells Lucia he must leave for France on family business. He hopes to make his peace with Enrico and marry Lucia. They exchange rings.

Act Two. Enrico has decided Lucia will marry Arturo at once. He knows she will resist, so he shows her a forged letter. It says that Edgardo has found a new lover. Lucia is crushed. Raimondo urges her to marry Arturo. Arturo arrives, and, with the stunned Lucia, signs the marriage contract. Edgardo suddenly enters and discovers Lucia's signature on the marriage contract. He curses her, and throws his ring on the floor.

Act Three. The wedding has taken place. Arturo and Lucia have retired to the bridal chamber. Raimondo interrupts the festivities in the Great Hall. He says Lucia is insane and has stabbed her husband to death. Lucia enters carrying a dagger. Her gown is smeared with blood. She acts disoriented. She imagines she is beside Edgardo, and soon to be married to him. She collapses and is carried away. Outside the castle, Edgardo learns that Lucia has died. He stabs himself, hoping to be united in death with Lucia.

Lucia Di Lammermoor Media

Disegno per copertina di libretto, drawing for Lucia di Lammermoor (1954).
Lammermuir Hills, Scotland
17929A-Lucia di Lammermoor
Set design for act 3, scene 3 by Francesco Bagnara, circa 1844 (Civica Raccolta Stampe Bertarelli Milan)
A caricature of the "Lucia Sextet", circa 1900 (Civica Raccolta Stampe Bertarelli Milan)