Synopsis

Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
Based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott

Setting: Scotland, late 17th century

Act 1

Scene 1: The grounds of Ravenswood Castle

A man named Norman engages his hunters to unveil a secret. They depart and Henry Ashton, lord of Lammermoor, arrives with his chaplain Raymond. Henry complains of his sister Lucia, who will not enter into a marriage necessary to secure the future of Lammermoor, which has been threatened by a political shift in England. Raymond believes she rejects the marriage because she continues to mourn her dead mother. Norman claims she is taken with another man, whom he suspects to be Edgar, lord of Ravenswood and sworn enemy of the Lammermoors. The hunters return and confirm the man to be Edgar. Henry swears revenge.

Scene 2: A park with a fountain in the foreground

Lucia awaits a rendezvous with Edgar. Her companion Alice waits with her. Lucia shudders at the sight of the fountain. She reminds Alice of the girl who was stabbed there by her jealous lover, a Ravenswood. Lucia, spooked, tells Alice that the girl once appeared to her. When she vanished, the water in the fountain turned blood-red. Alice thinks it an omen and tells Lucia to break it off with Edgar. Alice exits as Edgar arrives. Edgar has bad news: he must leave in the morning for France. But before he does, he will make peace with Henry and ask for Lucia’s hand. Lucia, though, fears it is too soon to reveal the truth. A compromise is made: they each take a vow of faith, and unite as husband and wife with the exchange of rings. Edgar departs.

Act 2

Scene 1: Henry’s chamber

Arthur, Lucia’s husband-to-be, will soon arrive at Lammermoor and Henry is worried that Lucia will not consent to the marriage. Norman assures Henry that a forged letter proving Edgar’s infidelity will guarantee her consent. Lucia arrives and Henry shows her the letter. Lucia sees death. Her life has ended with this news. Henry reminds her that he is ruined and may face death if she does not marry Arthur. His plight doesn’t move her.

Lucia suspects the letter false and consults Raymond. Raymond tells her that Henry has prevented delivery of letters from Edgar. However, Raymond has had a letter from Lucia delivered to Edgar and has received no reply, thus confirming his infidelity. Raymond advises her to marry Arthur. Lucia submits.

Scene 2: The Great Hall of Lammermoor Castle

Arthur has arrived and awaits Lucia. Henry warns him that she continues to grieve for her dead mother and so may appear sad. Lucia arrives in poor shape and dreads the marriage, which is death to her. But the contract is signed and Lucia and Arthur wed. Edgar then storms into the hall and Lucia falls unconscious. A confrontation is delayed by concern over Lucia. After she revives, Arthur, Henry and Edgar draw swords. Raymond intercedes and they withdraw.

Raymond tells Edgar that Lucia has married Arthur. Edgar returns Lucia’s ring and demands she return his. She hesitates and Edgar snatches it from her, throws it to the ground, and curses her betrayal. Edgar is forcibly removed from the castle.

Act 3

Scene 1: A chamber in Ravenswood Castle          

 A storm rages. Edgar mulls over his unhappiness. He looks out the window and hears a horse approaching. It is Henry. Henry and Edgar curse each other and Henry aggravates Edgar’s pain at losing Lucia. Henry then challenges Edgar to a duel at dawn in the Ravenswood graveyard. Edgar accepts.

Scene 2: The Great Hall of Lammermoor Castle

Celebrations of Lucia and Arthur’s marriage end when a terror-stricken Raymond approaches and tells of the horror he has witnessed: A scream from the bridal chamber made him rush to discover the matter. What he found was a lifeless, blood-soaked Arthur and a mad Lucia clutching a sword and asking for her bridegroom.

Lucia enters the hall but is clearly elsewhere. She hallucinates a happy if eerie scene at the fountain with Edgar that promises future bliss. Henry enters in a furor and interrupts the happy scene with doubts. She believes he is Edgar and pleas with him to not be upset. She works herself into a mad frenzy and then falls. She is dying. Raymond blames Norman for setting the tragedy in motion.

Scene 3: The Ravenswood Graveyard

Edgar roams the graveyard in despair, lamenting his loss of Lucia and the end of the Ravenswoods. He looks to death. He plans to throw himself on Henry’s sword. A crowd walking by catches his attention. They weep for Lucia. They tell Edgar she is dying and that she calls for him. But a bell, signifying her death, begins to sound. It is too late. Edgar declares he will follow. He draws a dagger and kills himself.

Wonder why...

A 19th century Italian opera composer would choose a pop novel set in the 17th century and written by a Scotsman for the subject of his next opera?

Lynn Rigberg's article on Lucia di Lammermoor written specially for Arizona Opera has the answers. Read the article.