London Voices / The Hanover Band
CD 1
Parte prima — La partenza · Part One — The Parting
Première Partie — La Séparation · Erster Teil — Die Abreise
Atto unico · Act One · Acte un · Erster Akt
1 Preludio 2.30
2 Percorrete/Percorriamo le spiagge vicine Normanno, cacciatori 2.19
3 Tu sei turbato! Normanno, Enrico, Raimondo 3.00
4 Cruda, funesta smania tu m’hai svegliata in petto! 2.02
Enrico, Normanno, Raimondo
5 Il tuo dubbio è ormai certezza Enrico, Normanno, Raimondo, cacciatori 2.06
6 La pietade in suo favore miti sensi invan ti detta 3.42
Enrico, Cacciatori, Raimondo
7 Ancor non giunse! Lucia, Alisa 4.39
8 Regnava nel silenzio alta la notte e bruna Lucia, Alisa 3.59
9 Quando, rapito in estasi Lucia, Alisa 4.38
10 Egli s’avanza Alisa, Edgardo, Lucia 2.37
11 Sulla tomba che rinserra Edgardo, Lucia 2.55
12 Qui di sposa eterna fede Edgardo, Lucia 2.30
13 Ah! Verranno a te sull’aure Edgardo, Lucia 4.30
Parte seconda — Il contratto nuziale · Part Two — The Marriage Contract
Deuxième Partie — Le Contrat de mariage · Zweiter Teil — Der Ehevertrag
Atto primo · Act One · Acte un · Erster Akt
14 Lucia fra poco a te verrà Normanno, Enrico 3.09
15 Appressati, Lucia … Il pallor, funesto, orrendo Enrico, Lucia 5.27
16 Soffriva nel pianto Lucia, Enrico 4.51
17 Se tradirmi tu potrai Enrico, Lucia 3.18
18 Ebben? — Di tua speranza l’ultimo raggio tramontò! Lucia, Raimondo 2.08
19 Ah! cedi, cedi Raimondo, Lucia 2.40
20 Al ben de’ tuoi qual vittima Raimondo, Lucia 3.45
CD 2
1 Per te d’immenso giubilo Cavalieri e dame, Arturo 3.29
2 Dov’è Lucia? — Qui giungere or la vedrem 1.45
Arturo, Enrico, cavalieri, dame, armigeri, domestici
3 Piange la madre estinta 2.25
Enrico, Lucia, Arturo, Raimondo, Alisa, Edgardo, cavalieri, dame,
armigeri, domestici
4 Chi mi frena in tal momento? / Chi raffrena il mio furore 3.33
Edgardo, Enrico, Lucia, Raimondo, Enrico, Alisa, Arturo, dame, cavalieri
5 T’allontana, sciagurato 3.23
Arturo, Enrico, Edgardo, Raimondo, Lucia, Alisa, cavalieri, dame
6 Esci, fuggi, il furor che mi/ne accende 2.28
Arturo, Enrico, Edgardo, Raimondo, Lucia, Alisa, cavalieri, dame
Atto secondo · Act Two · Acte deux · Zweiter Akt
7 Orrida è questa notte Edgardo, Enrico 2.11
8 Asthon! — Sì Edgardo, Enrico 5.36
9 Ah! O sole, più ratto, a sorger t’appresta Edgardo, Enrico 2.48
10 D’immenso giubilo s’innalzi un grido 1.40
Cavalieri, dame, abitanti di Lammermoor
11 Ah! cessate quel contento 5.39
Raimondo, cavalieri, dame, abitanti di Lammermoor
12 O giusto cielo! Par dalla tomba uscita! — Il dolce suono mi colpì di sua voce! 2.57
Cavalieri, dame, abitanti di Lammermoor, Lucia
13 Ohimè! sorge il tremendo fantasma e ne separa! Lucia 3.22
14 Ardon gl’incensi 3.39
Lucia, Normanno, Raimondo, cavalieri, dame, abitanti di Lammermoor
15 S’avanza Enrico! 3.01
Raimondo, Enrico, Lucia, cavalieri, dame, abitanti di Lammermoor
16 Spargi d’amaro pianto il mio terrestre velo 4.11
Lucia, Enrico, Raimondo, Normanno, cavalieri, dame, abitanti di Lammermoor
17 Si tragga altrove Enrico, Raimondo, Normanno 1.57
18 Tombe degli avi miei Edgardo 4.01
19 Fra poco a me ricovero darà negletto avello Edgardo 3.12
20 Oh meschina! Abitanti di Lammermoor, Edgardo, Raimondo 4.03
21 Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali Edgardo, Raimondo, abitanti di Lammermoor 4.40
SYNOPSIS
The action is set in Scotland at the end of the seventeenth century, in the reign of William and Mary, against the background of feuding factions and conflict between Catholics and Protestants. There is a long-standing feud between the Protestant Ashtons, lairds of Lammermoor, and the Catholic Ravenswoods. The Ravenswoods were defeated and Edgar, Laird of Ravenswood, had to forfeit his property to the Lammermoors; his father was killed in the conflict.
Part One: The Parting
In the woods near Ravenswood Castle
CD 1 1–2 Lammermoor huntsmen, led by Norman, discuss a stranger, seen near the castle. 3–4 As the huntsmen leave hurriedly in search, Henry Ashton enters with Raymond Bidebent, Lammermoor’s chaplain. Henry bitterly decries his declining fortunes due to power shifts at court, and believes that only a politically advantageous marriage between his sister Lucy and a rich local laird can strengthen his position. Lucy, however, stubbornly refuses to marry Sir Arthur Bucklaw. Raymond diplomatically suggests that Lucy’s grief over the recent death of her mother may account for her reluctance. The talkative Norman reveals that, on the contrary, Lucy has been secretly meeting a young man who saved her from a maddened wild bull. 5 The huntsmen return to report that they saw the stranger and recognize him as Edgar of Ravenswood. 6 The furious Henry swears vengeance on his hated enemy.
A fountain near Ravenswood Castle
7 Lucy, with Alice, her companion, waits with visible agitation for the arrival of Edgar. She looks with dread at the ruined fountain and 8 retells the legend of the jealous Ravenswood lover who stabbed his sweetheart to death beside it. She tells Alice she has recently seen the girl’s spectre eerily emerge from the waters. Alice, fearfully, urges Lucy to forget Edgar, 9 but Lucy ecstatically believes their love will bring eternal happiness.
10–11 Edgar comes in hurriedly with news that he must sail at once for France on a diplomatic mission. He proposes first to go to Henry and endeavor to end the feud between the two families and ask for her hand in marriage. Fearful that her brother’s hatred might part them forever, Lucy insists that Edgar keep their love a secret. Edgar once swore eternal vengeance against Lucy’s family; only love, he says, now deters him from this goal. 12 –13 Solemnly, they exchange vows of love and give rings as a token of eternal faithfulness.
Part Two: The Wedding Contract
Act One
Lord Henry Ashton’s chamber
14 Months have passed. Henry has planned his sister’s marriage to Sir Arthur Bucklaw. He has intercepted all of Edgar’s and Lucy’s letters, and a letter has been forged which seems to prove beyond doubt Edgar’s infidelity.
15–17 Lucy enters, pale and sad, and rejects scornfully once again a marriage to Arthur. Henry produces his forged letter, weakening her resolve by warning that he will be disgraced and financially ruined unless she consents to marry Arthur. Lucy is nearly numb with grief and devastated by the false letter.
18–20 As Henry leaves, Raymond joins Lucy. Even the chaplain believes that the long silence of Edgar can point only to his unfaithfulness. Invoking the memory of her mother and calling on her loyalty to her brother, Raymond counsels Lucy to bow to fate and accede to a marriage with Arthur, and comforts her, telling her that God would surely note her sacrifice and dry her tears.
The Great Hall of the Castle
CD 2 1–3 A joyful chorus gathers to witness the wedding and to welcome Arthur, but the pale, fainting appearance of the bride gives the lie to their joyful song. Distraught, oblivious to what is happening, she signs the document that makes her Lady Arthur Bucklaw. Suddenly Edgar bursts in, come to claim Lucy as his bride. 4–6 The stunned company dramatically reacts, each person expressing his conflicting emotions about the unexpected turn of events. Henry, Arthur and Edgar draw swords, but Raymond comes between them, showing Edgar the marriage contract. Edgar turns to Lucy for confirmation. Forlorn and trembling, she nods assent. Edgar, in a furious rage, calls down the curse of heaven on Lucy, demands the return of his ring and then flings it to the floor in fury. He attempts once again to attack Henry, but the guests turn on him and he rushes away.
Act Two
In the tower of Wolfs Crag, later that evening
7–9 A storm rages round the ruined tower. Henry seeks out Edgar, who is musing that the storm reflects what is happening in his own heart. Henry taunts Edgar with images of Lucy and Arthur in the bridal chamber and provokes a quarrel which can only result in a duel. Each is eager to avenge his family’s honor and they agree to fight at dawn among the tombs of the Ravenswoods.
The Great Hall of the Castle
10 The wedding guests are still feasting and dancing. 11 Suddenly Raymond enters, horror-stricken, and cries out that Lucy has gone mad and killed her husband. 12 –14 Lucy herself appears, pale and dishevelled, her white gown stained with blood, but happy in her madness because she believes herself to be with her lover. In the illusion, she is before the altar where she and Edgar are to be married. 15 –17 Henry bursts in, horrified by the news of his sister’s action; she rushes to him, believing him to be Edgar, as she begs forgiveness for agreeing to marry Arthur and promises to pray for him from heaven. Henry and Norman show remorse at the result of their intrigue and Raymond reproaches them. The guests comment on her pitiable state as she sinks, unconscious, into Alice’s arms.
The cemetary at Ravenswood Castle
18–19 In the pre-dawn chill, among the tombs of his ancestors, Edgar prepares for the duel, meditating on his lost love and calling on his ancestors to receive him. His anger gone, he no longer has any desire for revenge, and welcomes the thought of death. The lights from Ravenswood Castle mock him as he thinks of Lucy beside her husband.
20 A line of mourners comes from the castle, from whom he learns of the terrible events of the night and that Lucy is near death. At that very moment, Edgar is transfixed in grief as the bell tolls its sad message and Raymond confirms that she is no more. 21 Overcome, Edgar expresses his hope that he and Lucy, separated on earth, may be reunited in heaven. Before the stunned group of mourners, he draws his dagger and fatally stabs himself. All ask for God’s mercy upon him.