Lucia di Lammermoor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lucia di Lammermoor
by Gaetano Donizetti
Donizetti, about 1830
Genre	Opera in 3 acts
Librettist	Salvatore Cammarano
Language	Italian
Premiere	Naples, Italy September 26, 1835
Other	Operas by Donizetti Anna Bolena (1830) L'elisir d'amore (1832) Maria Stuarda (1834) Lucia di Lammermoor (1835) Roberto Devereux (1837) La fille du regiment (1840) Don Pasquale (1843)

Lucia di Lammermoor is a famous Italian opera with three acts. An opera is like a play where the story is told mostly through singing. Salvatore Cammarano wrote the libretto (which means the story and all the words). The amazing music was written by Gaetano Donizetti. This opera is based on a popular novel called The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott.

It was first performed on September 26, 1835. The premiere happened at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy. A talented singer named Fanny Tacchinardi-Persiani played the main character, Lucia. The opera is very well-known for a special song called the sextet "Chi mi frena". It also features Lucia's long and challenging "Mad Scene". This scene is a very difficult part for the singer. The opera was a huge success from the start. People loved every part of it. Donizetti and the performers received many cheers. Today, Lucia di Lammermoor is still one of the most performed operas around the world.

Main Characters in the Opera

This opera features several important characters. Each character plays a key role in the story. Here are the main people you will meet in Lucia di Lammermoor:

• Lucia: She is a young noblewoman. Lucia is deeply in love with Edgardo. Her role is sung by a soprano, a singer with a high voice.
• Edgardo di Ravenswood: He is Lucia's true love. His part is sung by a tenor, a male singer with a high voice.
• Enrico Ashton: Lucia's brother. He is sung by a baritone, a male singer with a medium-low voice.
• Arturo Bucklaw: A wealthy lord. He is arranged to marry Lucia. His role is also sung by a tenor.
• Raimondo Bidebent: A Calvinist chaplain. He is a religious advisor. His part is sung by a bass, a male singer with a very low voice.
• Alisa: Lucia's loyal maid. Her role is sung by a mezzo-soprano, a female singer with a medium voice.
• Normanno: Enrico's loyal helper. His part is sung by a tenor.

Images for kids

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  Drawing for the cover of the Lucia di Lammermoor libretto (1954).

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  The Lammermuir Hills in Scotland, where the story takes place.

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  A funny drawing of the "Lucia Sextet" from around 1900.

See also

In Spanish: Lucía de Lammermoor para niños