Organization

Singer

Soprano

Lisette Oropesa

Lucy

Baritone

George Petean

Lord Henry Ashton

Tenor

Benjamin Bernheim

Sir Edgar of Ravenswood

Josh Lovell

Lord Arthur Bucklaw

Bass

Roberto Tagliavini

Raymond Bidebent

Stage director

Laurent Pelly

Conductor

Evelino Pidò

Lighting designer

Duane Schuler

Costume designer

Set designer

Chantal Thomas

Mezzo-soprano

Patricia Nolz

Alice

Angelo Pollak

Norman

Wiener Staatsoper

Opera Philadelphia

Lucia di Lammermoor -  (Lucia of Lammermoor)

Vienna

Austria

Lord Enrico Ashton once seized power from the Ravenswood family and killed the head of the family - Edgardo's father. After a change of throne, however, Enrico suddenly belongs to the politically persecuted side and has to fear for his life. To save himself, he intends to marry his sister Lucia, whom he has always kept isolated from the outside world, to the influential Lord Arturo Bucklaw. When he communicates this plan to those close to him, Raimondo, Lucia's tutor, points out how much Lucia is still mourning her recently deceased mother and is therefore unable to even think of a wedding. To his great horror, Enrico then learns from his captain Normanno that that Lucia, despite the loss, was now madly in love with a stranger who had heroically protected her from a sudden attack by a wild bull and that this stranger was apparently none other than Enrico's mortal enemy Edgardo. Enraged, Enrico swears bloody revenge.

While the mentally disturbed Lucia is waiting to meet Edgardo, she tells her caregiver Alisa about a frightening vision in which Lucia thinks she has seen the ghost of the woman who was murdered by a Ravenswood in a fit of jealousy and then thrown into a well was. But her love for Edgardo and the prospect of his coming soon brightens her mood again very soon. However, shortly thereafter, Edgardo rushes over only to say goodbye to Lucia before a longer trip to France. Out of fear, Lucia rejects his plan to make an attempt at reconciliation with Enrico beforehand – their love may remain secret. As they say goodbye, the two quickly change rings as a sign of their oath of love.

During Edgardo's long absence, all of his letters to Lucia are intercepted by Enrico and Normanno and replaced with a forged one: in this way, Lucia is to be convinced of Edgardo's infidelity and made compliant for the marriage to Arturo. Since Lucia still wants to remain faithful to Edgardo, Enrico makes it clear to his sister that her refusal to marry Arturo would mean the downfall of their family. Finally, when Raimondo reminds her of her dead mother's peace of mind, Lucia desperately agrees, but at the same time longs for death.

As part of the wedding celebrations with Arturo, Lucia, who only has limited powers of sense, is forced to sign the marriage contract. No sooner has this happened than Edgardo unexpectedly enters the room to claim his rights to Lucia. However, when he learns that the young woman has already signed her marriage to Arturo, the desperate gives the ring back to Lucia and flees to his estate in Wolferag. A thunderstorm is brewing. Enraged, Enrico leaves the wedding and visits his opponent in his tower in Wolferag in the middle of the night - driven by hatred, thirst for revenge and jealousy, the two agree to a duel at dawn by the Ravenswood graves.

Meanwhile, in the bridal chamber, in a fit of insanity, Lucia stabbed Arturo to death. In complete mental confusion she enters the ballroom, which is still filled with guests, where she imagines in a vision that she is at her wedding with Edgardo and then implores her lover who is not there to forgive her and to mourn at her grave. Enrico, who has returned, now recognizes his guilt much too late, seeing his sister's madness in front of him.

At the Ravenswood graves, Edgardo is waiting for the duel with Enrico. From some passers-by he learns that Lucia has lost her mind, is dying and is wailing for him. Edgardo immediately wants to set off to see his beloved one last time, but Raimondo confronts him and confirms her death, which the death bells have already announced. Hoping to be connected to Lucia at least in the afterlife, Edgardo stabs himself.

Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti

Public

Lucia of Lammermoor

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading