Review of Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (Ranzani)

Introduction

Here`s the low-down on Lucia di Lammermoor.

In a feud between the Scottish families of Ravenswood and Lammermoor, Enrico (Henry Ashton, Laird of Lammermoor) has gained the upper hand over Edgardo (Edgar, Laird of Ravenswood), killing his kinsmen and taking over his estates. By the time of the opera`s action however, Enrico`s fortunes have begun to wane. In political disfavour, he stakes all on uniting his family with that of Arturo (Arthur, Lord Bucklaw), whom he means to force his sister Lucia (Lucy Ashton), to marry.

Think of it as a psycho-drama, as our central character, Lucia, is pushed over the edge by three men - her brother, her lover and a priest - all of whom are acting in response to her attempts to control her destiny. The opera is broken into three acts, spanning around 144-minutes. That`s a lot of singing. A 22-page libretto with long synopsis is included in the package.

If you want a more detailed breakdown of the acts, read on, else skip ahead to the next section. Warning, these do contain spoilers!

• Act I
In a ruined park near Lammermoor Castle, Enrico`s retainers prepare to search for a mysterious trespasser. Normanno, captain of the guard, remains behind to greet Enrico, who decries Lucia`s refusal to marry Arturo. When the girl`s elderly tutor, Raimondo, suggests that grief over her mother`s death keeps her from thoughts of love, Normanno reveals that Lucia has been discovered keeping trysts with a hunter who saved her from a raging bull. He suspects the stranger is none other than Edgardo. Enrico rages, and as retainers confirm Normanno`s suspicions, he swears vengeance.

At a fountain near her mother`s tomb, Lucia, fearful of her brother, awaits a rendezvous with Edgardo. 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 Edgardo. Though Alisa implores her to take care, Lucia cannot restrain her love. On arrival, Edgardo explains he must go to France on a political mission but wishes to reconcile himself with Enrico so he and Lucia may marry. Lucia, knowing her brother will not relent, begs Edgardo to keep their love a secret. Though infuriated at Enrico`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, Enrico plots with Normanno to force Lucia to marry Arturo. As the captain goes off to greet the bridegroom, Lucia enters, distraught but defiant, only to be shown a forged letter, supposedly from Edgardo, proving him pledged to another. Crushed, she longs for death, but Enrico insists on her marrying at once to save the family fortunes. Now Raimondo 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, Arturo pledges to restore the Ashtons` prestige. Enrico prepares him for Lucia`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 Edgardo bursts in. Returning earlier than expected, he has learned of the wedding and come to claim his bride. Bloodshed is averted only when Raimondo commands the rivals to put up their swords. Seeing Lucia`s signature on the contract, Edgardo tears his ring from her finger, curses her and rushes from the hall. Hardly comprehending his words, Lucia collapses.


• Act III
Edgardo sits in a chamber at the foot of Wolf`s Crag tower, deep in thought, as a storm rages. Enrico 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 Raimondo enters to announce that Lucia, gone mad, has stabbed and killed Arturo in the bridal chamber. Dishevelled, unaware of what she has done, she wanders in, recalling her meetings with Edgardo and imagining herself married to him. When the angry Enrico rushes in, the sight of her pitiful condition silences him. Believing herself in heaven, Lucia falls dying.

Among the tombs of his ancestors, Edgardo, last of the Ravenswoods, laments Lucia`s supposed betrayal and awaits his duel with Enrico, which he hopes will end his own life. Guests leaving Lammermoor Castle tell Edgardo the dying Lucia has called his name. As he is about to rush to her side, Raimondo arrives to tell of her death, and her bier is carried by. Resolving to join Lucia in heaven, Edgardo stabs himself and dies.

Video

Presented with a 1.85:1 letterbox transfer, Lucia di Lammermoor could look so much better if it was widescreen enhanced. Looking closely at the image, it`s easy to see the grain, so much so that I wondered if there was any rain in the scene because that`s what it resembled. Grain issues aside, colours are balanced, and somewhat restrained as the production probably calls for. No sign of damage or other compression issues. Note that this is an NTSC region 0 DVD.

Audio

There`s just one soundtrack, Dolby Digital 2.0 Italian and it sounds good. The sound is clear and dynamic without sounding flat and serves the opera well.

Features

None.

Conclusion

Lucia di Lammermoor is the most famous of Donizetti`s operas and was first performed on the 26th September 1835 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. It`s based on the gothic novel, "The Bride of Lammermoor" by Sir Walter Scott though Donizetti and his librettist, Cammarano, simplified the story and removed much of the detail from the book. Lucia di Lammermoor, as an opera, is an accomplished and tragic love story. The music is both haunting and beautiful to listen to and it`s easy to get swept away by it.

The sets are okay and the costumes are well made. It`s s shame the video quality is average at best and that we get nothing beyond plain stereo sound, but the opera does make up for it with engaging performances. The casting here works well and I have no complaints about the singing. Vincenzo La Scola, as Edgardo, produces a very strong and smooth performance, while Mariella Devia playing Lucia performs well as a woman on the verge of cracking up. Renato Bruson and Marco Berti too turn in strong performances, their voices resonating with passion. As far as operas go, Lucia di Lammermoor does the job and entertains.