Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages
Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages
Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages
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takes her to some luxurious rooms, now revealing himself as the Viscount de Serval, and declaring<br />
that they shall be married as soon as the legalities can be arranged. In the meantime, however, the<br />
Marchioness, furious at the dis-covery of her son's entanglement with a peasant girl, arrives in<br />
Paris, and declares that Linda shall be thrust into prison, unless he consents to give her up and<br />
accept a more suitable wife. Old Antonio, having already been evicted from his farm, has also<br />
discovered the pair, and, putting the worst construction upon the fine style in which his daughter<br />
appears to be living, he pours forth scornful reproaches upon the innocent girl. In order to gain<br />
time, Carlo pretends to fall in with his mother's wishes, with the result that the village girl believes<br />
that his love for her has vanished, and her despair is so great that she loses her reason, in which<br />
sad state she is discovered by the faithful Pierotto, who takes her back to the village once more.<br />
Here she is followed by Carlo, who, by singing to her a familiar love-song with which he had<br />
formerly delighted her, restores her reason, and the lovers embrace rapturously. The sight of their<br />
devotion melts the heart of the Mar-chioness, who now no longer withholds her consent to their<br />
marriage, and the old people being restored to their beloved farm, Linda's joy is complete.<br />
42. LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR<br />
Grand <strong>Opera</strong> in Three Acts By Gaetana Donizetti<br />
Libretto by Salvatore Cammerano, adapted from Scott's romance "The Bride of Lammermoor."<br />
First Produced Naples, 1835<br />
Chief Characters Lucy Ashton, Edgar of Ravenswood, Henry Ashton, Sir Arthur Bucklaw, Bidethe-Bent<br />
THE story follows on somewhat the same lines as Scott's romance, but the events are much<br />
condensed. The action is laid in Scotland, in the Lammermoor district, and in Act 1 Sir Henry<br />
Ashton and his followers are plotting to arrange a marriage between his sister Lucy and Sir Arthur<br />
Bucklaw, whose wealth and influence will assist the involved lord greatly, both financially and<br />
politically, he being concerned in a somewhat dangerous plot; but he is furious on learning from<br />
Lucy's tutor, Bide-the-Bent, that his young mistress has a secret lover, who has saved her recently<br />
from the attack of an infuriated bull, and whom he has discovered is none other than Edgar of<br />
Ravenswood, Henry Ashton's greatest enemy. Meanwhile, Lucy and her lover meet secretly in the<br />
park, and as Edgar is compelled to leave for France on State business, he desires to visit her<br />
brother and ask for her hand in marriage before leav-ing. This, however, Lucy begs him not to do,<br />
fearing her brother's anger; and finally the pair, having plighted their troth and exchanged rings,<br />
bid each other a tender farewell. In Act 2 Henry Ashton is persecuting his sister, and endeavouring<br />
to force her to wed Sir Arthur Bucklaw, declaring that he himself is utterly lost unless she consents<br />
to do so; but Lucy declares that Edgar of Ravenswood is her only love, and vows to remain true to<br />
him. Finding her so steadfast, Henry makes use of deceit, and by showing his sister a forged letter,<br />
supposed to come from Edgar, and stating that he is false to her and has taken a new love, he gains<br />
his end. Lucy, believing that Edgar no longer loves her, and thus not caring what becomes of her,<br />
is now willing to sacrifice herself for her brother's good, and very reluctantly she consents to wed<br />
the wealthy Arthur. On the marriage night, however, just as the wretched Lucy has signed the<br />
marriage contract, and the ceremony is over, Edgar dashes into the midst of the guests to claim his<br />
betrothed, and, seeing that Lucy has actually signed the marriage contract, and believing she has<br />
played him false, he turns upon the poor girl and upbraids her passionately, finally departing,