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Gaetano Donizetti

Lucia di Lammermoor

Opera

Stage

Lucia di Lammermoor is a dramma tragico (tragic opera) in three acts by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian-language libretto loosely based upon Walter Scott's 1819 historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor. Donizetti wrote Lucia di Lammermoor in 1835, when he was reaching the peak of his reputation as an opera composer. Gioachino Rossini had recently retired and Vincenzo Bellini had died shortly before the premiere of Lucia leaving Donizetti as "the sole reigning genius of Italian opera".

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synopsis

Time: 17th century
Place: Scotland

Atto I

Scene 1: The gardens of Lammermoor Castle

Normanno, captain of the castle guard, and other retainers are searching for an intruder. He tells Enrico that he believes that the man is Edgardo of Ravenswood, and that he comes to the castle to meet Enrico's sister, Lucia. It is confirmed that Edgardo is indeed the intruder. Enrico reaffirms his hatred for the Ravenswood family and his determination to end the relationship.
Scene 2: By a fountain at the entrance to the park, beside the castle
Lucia waits for Edgardo. In her famous aria "Regnava nel silenzio", Lucia tells her maid Alisa that she has seen the ghost of a girl killed on the very same spot by a jealous Ravenswood ancestor. Alisa tells Lucia that the apparition is a warning and that she must give up her love for Edgardo. Edgardo enters; for political reasons, he must leave immediately for France. He hopes to make his peace with Enrico and marry Lucia. Lucia tells him this is impossible, and instead they take a sworn vow of marriage and exchange rings. Edgardo leaves.

  1. Scena 1. (no. 1) Preludio e coro d'introduzione “Percorrete le spiagge vicine” (Normanno, Coro)
  2. Scena 1. (no. 2a) “Tu sei turbato!” (Normanno, Enrico, Raimondo)
  3. Scena 1. (no. 2b) “Cruda, funesta smania” (Enrico, Normanno)
  4. Scena 1. (no. 2c) “Il tuo dubbio è ormai certezza … Come vinti da stanchezza” (Coro, Normanno, Enrico, Raimondo)
  5. Scena 1. (no. 2d) “La pietade in suo favore” (Enrico, Coro, Raimondo)
  6. Scena 2. Intermezzo "Maestoso”
  7. Scena 2. (no. 3a) Scena “Ancor non giunse!” (Lucia, Alisa)
  8. Scena 2. (no. 3b) “Regnava nel silenzio” (Lucia, Alisa)
  9. Scena 2. (no. 3c) Stretta “Quando rapito in estasi” (Lucia, Alisa)
  10. Scena 2. (no. 4a) “Egli s'avanza” (“Lucia perdona”) (Alisa, Edgardo, Lucia)
  11. Scena 2. (no. 4b) Duetto "Sulla tomba che rinserra" (Edgardo, Lucia)
  12. Scena 2. (no. 4c) “Qui di sposa eterna fede” … “Ah, talor del tuo pensiero” (Edgardo, Lucia)
  13. Scena 2. (no. 4d) “Verranno a te sull’aure” (Edgardo, Lucia)

Atto II

Scene 1: Lord Ashton's apartments

Preparations have been made for the imminent wedding of Lucia to Arturo. Enrico worries about whether Lucia will really submit to the wedding. He shows his sister a forged letter seemingly proving that Edgardo has forgotten her and taken a new lover. Enrico leaves Lucia to further persuasion, this time by Raimondo, Lucia's chaplain and tutor, that she should renounce her vow to Edgardo, for the good of the family, and marry Arturo.
Scene 2: A hall in the castle
Arturo arrives for the marriage. Lucia seems distressed, but Enrico explains that this is due to the death of her mother. Arturo signs the marriage contract, followed reluctantly by Lucia. At that point Edgardo suddenly appears in the hall, which leads to the celebrated sextet Chi mi frena in tal momento. Raimondo prevents a fight, and he shows Edgardo Lucia's signature on the marriage contract. Edgardo curses her, demanding that they return their rings to each other. He tramples his ring on the ground, before being forced out of the castle.

  1. Introduzione atto II
  2. Scena 1. (no. 5) Scena “Lucia fra poco a te verrà” (Normanno, Enrico)
  3. Scena 1. (no. 6a) Recitativo “Appressati, Lucia” (Enrico)
  4. Scena 1. (no. 6b) Duetto “Il pallor, funesto, orrendo” (Lucia, Enrico)
  5. Scena 1. (no. 6c) Duetto “Soffriva nel pianto” (Lucia, Enrico)
  6. Scena 1. (no. 6d) Duetto “Che fia“ (Lucia, Enrico)
  7. Scena 1. (no. 6e) Duetto “Se tradirmi tu potrai“ (Enrico, Lucia)
  8. Scena 1. (no. 7a) “Ebben?... Di tua speranza” (Lucia, Raimondo)
  9. Scena 1. (no. 7b) “Ah! Cedi, cedi... o più sciagure” (Raimondo, Lucia)
  10. Scena 1. (no. 7c) “Al ben de'tuoi qual vittima” (Raimondo, Lucia)
  11. Scena 2. (No. 8) Coro e cavatina “Per te d’immenso giubilo… Per poco fra le tenebre” (Coro, Arturo)
  12. Scena 2. (no. 9a) Scena “Dov'è Lucia?” – “Piange la madre estinta” (Arturo, Enrico, Coro)
  13. Scena 2. (no. 9b) Quartetto “Ecco il tuo sposo” (Enrico, Lucia, Arturo, Raimondo)
  14. Scena 2. (no. 9c) Sestetto con coro “Chi mi frena in tal momento?” (Edgardo, Enrico, Lucia, Raimondo, Alisa, Coro, Arturo)
  15. Scena 2. (no. 10a) Stretta del finale “T'allontana, sciagurato” (Enrico, Arturo, Edgardo, Lucia, Raimondo)
  16. Scena 2. (no. 10) Finale II “Maledetto sia l'istante” (Edgardo, Enrico, Arturo, Coro, Lucia, Raimondo, Alisa)
  17. Scena 2. (no. 10c) “Esci, fuggi, il furor che mi accende” (Arturo, Enrico, Coro, Raimondo, Lucia, Edgardo, Alisa)

Atto III

Scene 1: Wolfcrag

Enrico visits Edgardo to challenge him to a duel. He tells him that Lucia is already enjoying her bridal bed. Edgardo agrees to fight him. They will meet later by the graveyard of the Ravenswoods, near the Wolf's Crag.
Scene 2: A Hall
Raimondo interrupts the marriage celebrations to tell the guests that Lucia has gone mad and killed her bridegroom Arturo. Lucia enters. In the aria "Il dolce suono" she imagines being with Edgardo, soon to be happily married. Enrico enters and at first threatens Lucia but later softens when he realizes her condition. Lucia collapses. Raimondo blames Normanno for precipitating the whole tragedy.
Scene 3: The graveyard of the Ravenswood family
Edgardo is resolved to kill himself on Enrico's sword. He learns that Lucia is dying and then Raimondo comes to tell him that she has already died. Edgardo stabs himself with a dagger, hoping to be reunited with Lucia in heaven.

  1. Introduzione atto III
  2. scena 1. no. 11a. “Orrida è questa notte” (Edgardo, Enrico)
  3. scena I. no. 11b. Duetto "Ashton!...Si" (Edgardo, Enrico)
  4. scena I. no. 11c. Duetto "Qui del padre ancor respira" (Edgardo, Enrico)
  5. Scena 1. (no. 12) “Ah! O sole, più ratto” (Edgardo, Enrico)
  6. Scena 1. no. 13. “D'immenso giubilo s'innalzi un grido” (Coro)
  7. Scena 1. no. 13. Scena con coro “Deh, cessate quel contento” … “Dalle stanze ove Lucia” (Raimondo, Coro)
  8. Scena 1. no. 13. Scena con coro “Oh! qual funesto avvenimento” (Coro, Raimondo)
  9. Scena 1. no. 14. “Ahimè! sorge il tremendo fantasma” (Lucia)
  10. Scena 1. no. 14. “Sparsa è di rose” (Lucia)
  11. Scena 1. no. 14. “Ardon gli incensi” (Lucia, Raimondo)
  12. Scena 1. no. 14. “S'avanza Enrico!” (Raimondo, Enrico, Coro, Lucia)
  13. Scena 1. no. 14. “Spargi d’amaro pianto” (Lucia, Enrico, Raimondo, Coro)
  14. Scena 1. no. 14. “Si tragga altrove” (Enrico, Raimondo, Normanno)
  15. Scena 2. no. 15. “Tombe degli avi miei” (Edgardo)
  16. Scena 2. no. 15. “Fra poco a me ricovero” (Edgardo)
  17. Scena 2. no. 15. “Oh, meschina! O, fato orrendo” (Coro, Edgardo, Raimondo)
  18. Scena 2. no. 15. “Tu che a Dio spiegasti l'ali” (Edgardo, Raimondo, Coro)

Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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