Donizetti wrote Lucia di Lammermoor in 1835, a time when several factors led to the height of his reputation as a composer of opera. Gioachino Rossini had recently retired and Vincenzo Bellini had died shortly before the premiere of Lucia leaving Donizetti as "the sole reigning genius of Italian opera". Not only were conditions ripe for Donizetti's success as a composer, but there was also a European interest in the history and culture of Scotland. The perceived romance of its violent wars and feuds, as well as its folklore and mythology, intrigued 19th century readers and audiences. Sir Walter Scott made use of these stereotypes in his novel The Bride of Lammermoor, which inspired several musical works including Lucia.
| Librettist | Salvadore Cammarano (Based upon "The Bride of Lammermoor" by Sir Walter Scott) |
| Premiered | 1835, September 26th in Naples, Italy |
| Type | Dramma Tragico |
| Approx. duration | 130 minutes |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
Orchestra
Voice (Baritone) - Lord Enrico Ashton ( Lord of Lammermoor, Lucia's brother) Voice (Soprano) - Lucia, sorella di Lord Ashton Voice (Tenor) - Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood Voice (Tenor) - Lord Arturo Bucklaw (Lucia's bridegroom) Voice (Bass) - Raimondo Bidebent, educatore e confidente di Lucia (a Calvinist chaplain) Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Alisa, damigella di Lucia (Lucia's handmaid) Voice (Tenor) - Normanno, capo degli armigeri di Ravenswood (huntsman, a retainer of Enrico) Chorus/Choir - Dame e cavalieri, congiunti di Ashton, abitanti di Lammermoor, paggi, armigeri, domestici di Ashton (Retainers and servants, wedding guests) |
| Arrangements |
●
Franz Liszt: Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor, S. 397
● Franz Liszt: Marche et Cavatine de Lucie de Lammermoor, S. 398 |
| Autotranslations beta |
Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor |
Metropolitan Opera Spring Highlights Join us in The Greene Space for an evening with the stars of the Metropolitan Opera! Hear favorite selections from the company’s spring productions sung by current Met stars, including Susan Graham (The Merry Widow), Albina Shagimuratova (Lucia di Lammermoor), Oksana Dyka (Aida), Piotr Beczala (Un Ballo in Maschera), Dmitri Belosselskiy (Ernani), and George Gagnidze (Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci), plus special cameo appearances by other Met artists. Craig Rutenberg, the Met’s Director of Music Administration and a well-known recital pianist, will accompany the singers in music by Donizetti, Verdi, Mascagni and Leoncavallo. The evening also includes a sneak peek at the new staging of Cav/Pag by director Sir David McVicar. WQXR’s Naomi Lewin hosts.