St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-05-03
THE CHORAL UNION OPERA"
,r,.n s,ory Of "Lucia di Lammermoor

In order tDaC Ine puDlC may KNOW
something about the opera Lucia di
ommermoor" which the Choral Union
are to give at their May festival as their
chief work, we print (herewitb) synop-
e;s of the story. This is an undertaking
orite out of the ordinary for choral
societies, and we think will prove a great
attraction at the coming festival.
Lucia di Lammermoor is a tragic
drama in three acts by Gaetano Doni-
zetti.
Gaetano Donizetti was born in Ber-
gamo, small city in the north of Italy,
Nov. 90, 1897. He early began to show
recollection for the arts and studied
drawing, architecture and literature
These studies did not satisfy his cravings
and he plucked up courage to entreat his
father to allow him to study music.
After some hesitation his father consent.
ed. He pursued his studies in Bologna
and Rome, and soon learned that his
success in life would be in the realm of
operate composition. During his life he
composed sixty-six operas besides many
oyertures, church pieces and songs. The
most noted of his operas at the present
day are Lucia di Lammermoor," BEL
isario, LA File do Regiment" "Lucre-
zia Borgia, ""Linda di Chamounix" and
ia Favorita." He died April s, 1S4S,
and was buried in his native city, Der.
gamo.
Lucia di Lammermoor is probably the
best known of any OF Donizetti's operas.
1t was written in 1885 and received it's
first performance at the Teatos Fonda in
Naples, Sept. Goth of that year. 1t was
first performed in this country in 1S43
in New York.
The opera is founded on Sir Walter
Scotts novel "The Bride of Hammer
moor Scott was special favorite Of
Douzetti. He had already written one
opera founded on Kenilworth when the
story of Lucia Ashton and the master of
n Rayenswood became known to him. and
with the help of Cammerano he made up
the bretto. The opera introduces the
following characters.
81 Lord Henry Ashton, Baritone
IA Miss Lucia, his sister Soprano,
Sir Edgar of Ravenswood, Tenor.
"A Lord Arthur Bucklaw, Tenor
Raimonds Bdebent, tutor, Basso.
Alice, companion to Lucia Mezzo Soprano.
Norman. Captain of the Guard, Tenor.
The opera opens in the gardens OF
Il Ravenswood Castle with a group of its
guards, Norman at their head, excitedly
talking of the discovery of stranger
4 prowling around the estate. Lord Henry
\ learns from Norman that the intruder is
4 Edgar of Ravenswood, their dispossessed
enemy, and that his sister Lucia is steal
4 ing interviews with him. Henry swears
vengeance and the male chorus unite in
\ his wish.
The second scene introduces Lucia with
n Alice awaiting Edgar in the lovely park
4 BY the haunted spring. Lucia has scarce
\ ly finished telling its legend of i'll omen
4 and her own fear of wretched ending oil
their secret love affair, when Edgar ap
PNulo. liz duuOuHSSS tildt tniS 10 q pal =
ing, that he must leave Scotland for
France on a political GRAND. They
pledge faithfulness and separate in an.
i gush in true operate fashion.
i The third scene is supposed to occur
some months later. The tyrannical
Henry has arranged to give his sisters
hand to Lord Arthur in marriage. Lucia
\ has not heard from Edgar as the brother
4 has suppressed his letters. He produces
the usual operate convenience of forged
N letters to show that Edgar is faithless
The unhappy girl is overcome and signs
the contract of marriage when Edgar
appears. In the usual tempest o
wounded pride and misunderstanding hi
denounces Lucia, insults her brother anG
4 guests and quits the apartment alive
q only through the good offices of Bide
d the-Bent.
y The third act finds Edgar in his lovely
n chamber at Wolfscrag Tower. Herr
Il Henry seeks him and challenges him anC
\ meeting is arranged. The second seem
is the wedding of Lucia and Lord Arthur
N The festive chorus is broken by Bide-the
81 Bent's entrance with the startling new
that Lucia is a maniac-bride and tina
she has murdered her newly made hus
band. The distracted girl comes into
81 the room, she raves melodiously, and tn
madden she gets the better she sings
n This great mad scene is the stock con
cert selection of most operate artists
Even her brother s anger cannot calm he
and she is led away as Bde-the- Bent re
Dukes Norman as tell.tale who ha
E brought all this misery on the Ashton's
RI The final scene presents Edgard'
among the graves of his race. Grief an,
despair have broken his heart. He re
solves to take his own life when he hear
the Lammermoor folk approach singing
adoleful chant. Bide.the. Bent appear
and dscloses the fact that Lucia's mad
ness has ended in her own death. Edga
apostrophizes her pure spirit and declare
that they will not be long parted an
stabs himself, dying as the chorus abou
nm piously pray that Heaven may pal
don such human errors.
The opera is sentimental, but it ha
musical beauty in lavish measure an
M constantly throbs with true dramati
W feeling. There are melodies which haun
the ear-the story of the haunted sprin
Z In silence all lay slumbering" is wor
drously beautiful. The passionate se1
" tette What from Vengeance" wei
known, is intensely dramatic and man
III other selections will afford an evenin
concert of great enjoyment by all musi
| loving people.