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Synopsis
Production Sponsor
Lucia di Lammermoor
by Donizetti
May 15, 18, 20 and 22, 2010
Guest Conductor: Giuseppe GRAZIOLI
Director: Robert MARIEN
Lucia |
Elena XANTHOUDAKIS, soprano Etienne DUPUIS, baritone Marc HERVIEUX, tenor Thomas MACLEAY, tenor Alexander SAVTCHENKO, bass Benoît BOUTET, tenor Geneviève LÉVESQUE, mezzo-soprano |
Le Chœur de l’Opéra de Québec
L'Orchestre symphonique de Québec
Original Italian versions with supertitles
Video rehearsals et Photos of the production
Scotland, towards the end of the seventeenth century
Act I
Scene One
The park of Ravenswood Castle
Lord Enrico Ashton and Edgardo of Ravenswood are bitter enemies. Long ago, the Ravenswoods lost their holdings to the Ashton family. Now, to consolidate his unstable fortune, Enrico Ashton is trying to arrange for a marriage between Lucia and Lord Arturo Bucklaw. He learns from Normanno that Lucia is in love with someone else. Enrico forces him to reveal the name of the unknown suitor, Edgardo. Furious, Enrico vows to break the bonds that bind his sister and Edgardo.
Scene Two
In the park
Lucia, awaiting the arrival of Edgardo, converses with Alisa, who warns her of the risk involved in any future rendezvous with Edgardo, now that Enrico is aware of their liaison. Lucia, staring at the fountain, recalls its legend. Once upon a time, a Ravenswood killed his lover, whose body still lies in the depths of the fountain. Lucia relates that her ghost has recently appeared to her. Alisa interprets this as a bad omen, and warns Lucia to beware of a similar fate.
Edgardo arrives and Alisa withdraws to stand guard. Edgardo announces that he must depart for France immediately, on political business, but first, he intends to meet Enrico to make peace and ask for Lucia's hand. Lucia, terrified at the idea of her brother's reaction, begs him to keep their love a secret. Edgardo angrily explains that he had long ago sworn to avenge his father's death at the hands of Lucia's family and, although his hate has been overcome by their love, he could still fulfill his vow. Lucia succeeds in calming Edgardo and the two lovers exchange rings and pledge absolute fidelity.
Act II
Scene One
A hall in Lammermoor Castle
Enrico tries to persuade Lucia to marry Arturo. In this respect, he must devise a scheme to bring her about. He decides to prepare a counterfeit letter, to make her believe that Edgardo is unfaithful to her. Lucia falls into the trap, and expresses her despair. Raimondo, unaware of the scheme, also pushes Lucia towards this marriage. Broken and worn out, the young woman yields.
Scene Two
Lammermoor Castle
Guests are gathered in the grand hall of the castle. As Lucia despondently signs the marriage contract she says "And so, I sign my death warrant." Here, to everyone's surprise, Edgardo appears. Enrico challenges Edgardo to a duel, but Raimondo standing between the adversaries, succeeds in calming the situation. He shows Edgardo the contract that Lucia has just signed; she now belongs to another. Edgardo draws from Lucia the confirmation of her consent, and, refusing to listen to her tearful protestations, he damns them all and departs, abandoning a despairing Lucia.
Act III
Scene One
Wolfscrag Tower
While a storm rages, Edgardo is brooding on his lost love. Enrico appears, inflames their common hate, and challenges Edgardo to a duel: tomorrow at dawn.
Scene Two
A hall in the castle
The wedding festivities are in progress in the great hall of the castle. Arturo and Lucia have retired, when suddenly Raimondo appears, staggering, and calls for a sudden end to the rejoicing. He tells how he has just found the body of Arturo lying in a pool of his own blood with Lucia, who has obviously lost her mind, holding the poniard that she has just used to kill her spouse. Lucia appears, in her blood-spattered wedding gown, raving mad and completely unconscious of her surroundings.
Scene Three
The Ravenwood Cemetery
Edgardo, having lost his raison d'être and unaware of Lucia's situation, seeks solace beside the ancestral crypt. Passers-by mourn the fate of poor Lucia, who is on the edge of death. He learns that Lucia lost her mind on her wedding night, that she is at death's door and that she is constantly calling his name. The bell tolls: Raimondo appears and confirms Lucia's death. Horrified, Edgardo stabs himself.
