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LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR AN ITALIAN TRAGEDY

This opera is a tragedy and consists of three acts. It was written in 1835 by Gaetano Donzietti at the height of his career and it became instantly popular. It was especially popular as it was written at a time when the history and the culture of Scotland was of popular interest within Europe.

Lucia di Lammermoor is set in a castle in Scotland in the late seventeenth century. It is about feud between two families and a love story between members of the feuding families. The opera premiered in 1835 in Naples at Teatro San Carlo. It was later first performed in the United Kingdom in 1838 in London. The opera is still performed widely today and is 21st on the list of the most performed operas in the world.

HISTORY

Act 1

Normanno is searching for intruders. He tells Enrico that he thinks the intruder is Edgardo come to meet Lucia. It is confirmed that the intruder is Edgardo, and this causes Enrico to declare his hatred for the Ravenswood family as well as his determination to end the relationship between Edgardo and Lucia.
Lucia is waiting for Edgardo. She tells her maid, Alisa, that she has seen the ghost of a girl who was killed by a member of the Ravenswood family. Alisa tells Lucia that it is a sign that she should end her relationship with Edgardo. Edgardo enters and declares that he has to leave for France immediately. He also states that he wishes to make peace with Enrico and marry Lucia. Lucia says it is impossible, and they secretly make marriage vows and exchange rings before Edgardo leaves.

Act 2

Preparations are made for Lucia to marry Arturo but Enrico worries that Lucia will not marry him. He fakes a letter supposedly from Edgardo stating that he no longer cares for Lucia. Arturo arrives for the wedding and he signs the marriage contract, followed reluctantly by Lucia. Edgardo appears, curses Lucia and stamps on his ring before being thrown out the castle.

Act 3

Enrico challenges Edgardo to a duel. They arrange to meet later by the graveyard. Raimondo interrupts the marriage celebrations to tell everyone that Lucia has killed her new husband Arturo. Lucia collapes. After hearing that Lucia has killed herself, Edgardo stabs himself with a dagger hoping to be united with her in heaven.

MAIN ROLES

Lucia, coloratura soprano
Lord Enrico Ashton, Lord of Lammermoor and Lucia's brother, baritone
Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood, tenor
Lord Arturo Bucklaw, Lucia's bridegroom, tenor
Raimondo Bidebent, a chaplain, bass
Alisa, Lucia's handmaid, mezzo-soprano