Lucia di Lammermoor : An Introduction to the Opera
by Lorella McDonald
Lucia di Lammermoor is an opera based on a dark Scottish tale and sung in Italian . It tells the story of a love affair between Lucy Ashton ( Lucia ) and Edgar Ravenswood . Even though their families hate each other they fall in love and by the end of the first act , they have taken a vow of marriage and exchanged rings . However Enrico , who is Lucia ’ s evil brother , has other plans for his sister . He arranges for her to marry another man called Arturo who is better suited for the good of the family . Enrico convinces Lucia that Edgardo has abandoned her and taken on a new lover , he does this by showing her a forged letter seemingly proving this to be the case . Lucia is devastated and is forced to agree to the marriage with Arturo . The wedding arrangements go ahead and Arturo signs the marriage contract as does Lucia reluctantly . Just as this happens though , Edgardo enters the scene . Here , one of the most beautiful and dramatic sextets is sung by the main characters , “ Chi me frena in tal momento …” ( What freezes me in such a moment ….).
Edgardo sees his beloved has just signed the contract to marry another man and overcome by rage and jealousy furiously throws his own ring onto the ground , trampling it before being forced out of the castle .
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The final act , act 3 , contains one of the most famous ‘ mad scenes ’ in the history of opera . It is referred to as Lucia ’ s ‘ Mad scene ’ and is one of the most challenging pieces for a singer to perform . Here , Lucia sings about her fantasy that she will marry Edgardo and live happily ever after with him , “ Il dolce suono ” ( The Most Beautiful Dream …).
This aria is long and vocally demanding , stretching the voice to its limits . Highlights to look out for are the echoes the flute ( recently the Metropolitan Opera in New York used a glass harmonica for a more ethereal effect ) echoing Lucia ’ s plaintive vocal lines . It is simply a stunning vocal coloratura performance , particularly the version sung by Joan Sutherland in 1959 and 1960 at the Royal Opera House , Covent Garden . It is not surprising then that by the end of this aria , Lucia ( and the soprano !) collapses onto the floor . The opera ends when Edgardo learns about Lucia ’ s death and realizing she was indeed his only one true love , stabs himself to death hoping to be reunited with his beloved in heaven .
Donizetti ’ s opera is based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott entitled The Bride of Lammermoor and it is set in the Lammermuir Hills of Scotland ( Lammermoor ) in the 17th Century . At the time when Scott was writing , there was a perceived romance of Scotland amongst the readers and audiences of the 19th Century . They viewed Scotland as a wild place with violent wars and feuds as well as strange folklore and mythology full of ghosts and curses . Therefore , Donizetti ’ s interpretation of the novel in an opera had particular appeal to the audience of the time .
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