Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

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