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Lucie de Lammermoorby Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) French version first performed: 6 August 1839, Paris CHARACTERS
Relatives, Retainers, and Friends of the House of Lammermoor Place: Scotland; Time: About 1700 ACT I.
In a ruined park near Lammermoor Castle, Henri's retainers prepare to search for a mysterious trespasser. Norman, captain of the guard, remains behind to greet Henri, who decries Lucie's refusal to marry Arthur. When the girl's elderly tutor, Raymond, suggests that grief over her mother's death keeps her from thoughts of love, Norman reveals that Lucie has been discovered keeping trysts with a hunter who saved her from a raging bull. He suspects the stranger is none other than Edgard. Henri rages, and as retainers confirm Norman's suspicions, he swears vengeance. At a fountain near her mother's tomb, Lucie, fearful of her brother, awaits a rendezvous with Edgard. She tells her confidante, Alisa, the tale of a maiden's ghost that haunts the fountain and has warned her of a tragic end to her love for Edgard. Though Alisa implores her to take care, Lucie cannot restrain her love. On arrival, Edgard explains he must go to France on a political mission but wishes to reconcile himself with Henri so he and Lucie may marry. Lucie, knowing her brother will not relent, begs Edgard to keep their love a secret. Though infuriated at Henri's persecution, he agrees. The lovers seal their vows by exchanging rings, then bid each other farewell. ACT II.In an anteroom of Lammermoor Castle, Henri plots with Norman to force Lucie to marry Arthur. As the captain goes off to greet the bridegroom, Lucie enters, distraught but defiant, only to be shown a forged letter, supposedly from Edgard, proving him pledged to another. Crushed, she longs for death, but Henri insists on her marrying at once to save the family fortunes. Now Raymond urges her to consent to the wedding, invoking the memory of her mother and asking her to respect the family's desperate situation. When she yields, he reminds her there are heavenly rewards for earthly sacrifices. In the great hall of Lammermoor, as guests hail the union of two important families, Arthur pledges to restore the Ashtons' prestige. Henri prepares him for Lucie's melancholy by pleading her grief over her mother's death. No sooner has the girl entered and been forced to sign the marriage contract than Edgard bursts in. Returning earlier than expected, he has learned of the wedding and come to claim his bride. Bloodshed is averted only when Raymond commands the rivals to put up their swords. Seeing Lucie's signature on the contract, Edgard tears his ring from her finger, curses her and rushes from the hall. Hardly comprehending his words, Lucie collapses. ACT III.Edgard sits in a chamber at the foot of Wolf's Crag tower, deep in thought, as a storm rages. Henri rides there to confront him, and the flames of their enmity flare. They agree to meet at dawn among the tombs of the Ravenswoods to fight a duel. The continuing wedding festivities are halted when Raymond enters to announce that Lucie, gone mad, has stabbed and killed Arthur in the bridal chamber. Disheveled, unaware of what she has done, she wanders in, recalling her meetings with Edgard and imagining herself married to him. When the angry Henri rushes in, he is silenced by the sight of her pitiful condition. Believing herself in heaven, Lucie falls dying. Among the tombs of his ancestors, Edgard, last of the Ravenswoods, laments Lucie's supposed betrayal and awaits his duel with Henri, which he hopes will end his own life. Guests leaving Lammermoor Castle tell Edgard the dying Lucie has called his name. As he is about to rush to her side, Raymond arrives to tell of her death, and her bier is carried by. Resolving to join Lucie in heaven, Edgard stabs himself and dies. |
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) |
