Lucia di Lammermoor – Donizetti
Donizetti’s Opera, Lucy of Lammermoor, Girl Gone Mad!
Lucia di Lammermoor, Gaetano Donizetti's tragic opera based on Scott's the Bride of Lammermoor. Lucia opera plot summary, Lucia character list, Lucia opera information.
Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucy of Lammermoor)
Composed: 1835
First Performance: September 26, 1835 Teatro di San Carlo
Language: Italian
Libretto: Salvatore Cammarano base on Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor
Setting: Lammermoor Castle, Scotland (1669)
Drama Tragico (tragic drama) in 3 acts.
The Main Characters in Lucia di Lammermoor
- Lucia di Lammermoor, Lucy Ashton (soprano)
- Edgardo Ravenswood, Sir Edgar Ravenswood, Lucia’s beloved (tenor)
- Enrico Ashton, Lord Henry Ashton, Lucia’s brother (baritone)
- Raimondo, a chaplain (bass)
- Arturo, Arthur Bucklaw, Lucia’s husband (tenor)
Basic Plot Summary of Lucia di Lammermoor
Act I
Enrico decides that his sister, Lucia, should marry Arturo Bucklaw for money and status. She, however, is in-love with Edgardo Ravenswood, who is her brother’s bitter rival and their family’s mortal enemy. Edgardo wants to ask Lucia’s brother for her hand in marriage, but Lucia is scared of what her brother’s reaction will be. Edgardo then hears that he must leave for France for political reasons. She insists that they keep their love a secret; the two exchange rings and say goodbye.
Act II
Enrico uses a forged letter from Edgardo to another woman to persuade Lucia to marry another man, Arturo. Lucia is crushed by what she sees in the letter and agrees to marry Arturo. As the wedding ceremony begins, Edgardo arrives back to the castle from his time in France, claiming that he still loves Lucia. Enrico and Edgardo draw swords and Edgardo is shown the signed marriage contract between Lucia and Arturo. Edgardo gives Lucia back her ring and storms out of the castle.
Act III
Enrico challenges Edgardo to a duel. Raimondo burst into the wedding party to tell everyone the news that he has found Lucia over Arturo’s dead body, still holding the bloody knife. Mad, Lucia appears carrying the murder weapon. She hallucinates about how she hears Edgardo’s voice and how she is about to marry him. She collapses and dies. Edgardo, who is waiting at the tomb of the Ravenswoods for his duel with Enrico, receives word via Raimondo that Lucia has died calling out to Edgardo. Edgardo stabs himself, wanting to be reunited with beloved Lucia.
Other Operas written by Gaetano Donizetti: ( follow links to other plot summaries)
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