Opera guides
Lucia di Lammermoor: synopsis, roles, arias and diction notes
Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: premiere cast, voice types, synopsis by act, the mad scene and other famous arias with first lines, and Italian diction notes.
Diction Desk editors · Checked 19 October 2026 against 6 sources
Lucia di Lammermoor is an opera by Gaetano Donizetti to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, loosely based on Walter Scott's 1819 novel The Bride of Lammermoor1. It premiered on 26 September 1835 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples1. Its mad scene, Il dolce suono, has historically been a vehicle for several coloratura sopranos1,2.
- Composer
- Gaetano Donizetti1
- Librettist
- Salvadore Cammarano1
- Premiere
- 26 September 1835, Teatro di San Carlo, Naples1
- Language
- Italian1
- Source
- Walter Scott's 1819 novel The Bride of Lammermoor1
- Setting
- Lammermuir Hills, Scotland, 17th century1
Contents
Lucia di Lammermoor is a tragedy of two feuding families, set in Scotland1. This page collects the facts to check before you open the score, one of many guides in the operas section.
At a glance
Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian-language libretto, loosely based on Walter Scott’s 1819 historical novel1. Donizetti’s Lucia is the seventh operatic version of that novel3. The opera premiered on 26 September 1835 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples1. Donizetti was reaching the peak of his reputation as an opera composer1.
The setting is the Lammermuir Hills of Scotland in the 17th century1. The premise is a woman caught in a feud between her own family and that of the Ravenswoods1. The score gives Parte Prima the subtitle “La Partenza” (The Parting) and Parte Seconda the subtitle “Il Contratto Nuziale” (The Wedding Contract)3.
Cammarano gave Donizetti six other librettos, including those for Roberto Devereux and Poliuto3. He later wrote three librettos for Verdi3.
Who’s who
| Role | Voice type | Premiere singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucia (Lucy Ashton) | Soprano | Fanny Tacchinardi Persiani1 | Caught in a feud between her family and the Ravenswoods1 |
| Enrico Ashton | Baritone | Domenico Cosselli1 | Lord of Lammermoor, Lucia’s brother1 |
| Edgardo di Ravenswood | Tenor | Gilbert Duprez1 | Leader of the Ashtons’ political enemies4 |
| Raimondo Bidebent | Bass | Carlo Ottolini Porto1 | A Calvinist chaplain1 |
| Alisa | Mezzo-soprano | Teresa Zappucci1 | Lucia’s handmaid1 |
Synopsis
Act 1
An intruder is spotted at night on the grounds of Lammermoor Castle, where Enrico Ashton lives4. Enrico’s fortunes depend on the arranged marriage of his sister Lucia with Lord Arturo4. Normanno, captain of the castle guard, and other retainers search for the intruder1. Normanno reveals that Lucia is concealing a great love for Edgardo di Ravenswood, leader of the Ashtons’ political enemies4.
In her famous aria Regnava nel silenzio, Lucia tells her maid Alisa that she has seen the ghost of a girl who was stabbed by her jealous lover at the fountain1,4. Edgardo enters; for political reasons he must leave immediately for France1. Lucia and Edgardo exchange rings and vows of devotion4.
Act 2
Enrico shows his sister a forged letter seemingly proving that Edgardo has forgotten her and taken a new lover1. Raimondo urges Lucia to renounce her vow to Edgardo, for the good of the family, and marry Arturo1.
Edgardo suddenly appears in the hall, which leads to the celebrated sextet Chi mi frena in tal momento1. Edgardo curses Lucia and demands that they return their rings to each other1.
Act 3
Enrico visits Edgardo to challenge him to a duel1. Raimondo interrupts the marriage celebrations to tell the guests that Lucia has gone mad and killed her bridegroom Arturo1. In the aria Il dolce suono she imagines being with Edgardo, soon to be happily married1. The cabaletta Spargi d’amaro pianto follows the more lyrical Il dolce suono in the mad scene1.
Edgardo stabs himself with a dagger, hoping to be reunited with Lucia in heaven1.
The famous arias
| Aria | Role | Act | First line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regnava nel silenzio | Lucia | 12 | Regnava nel silenzio2 |
| Quando rapito in estasi | Lucia | 12 | Quando rapito in estasi1 |
| Chi mi frena in tal momento (sextet) | Ensemble | 21 | Chi mi frena in tal momento1 |
| Il dolce suono (mad scene) | Lucia | 32 | Il dolce suono2 |
| Spargi d’amaro pianto (cabaletta) | Lucia | 31 | Spargi d’amaro pianto1 |
| Ardon gli incensi | Lucia | 32 | Ardon gli incensi2 |
| Tombe degli avi miei | Edgardo | 32 | Tombe degli avi miei2 |
Cammarano died on 17 July 1852, so his text is in the public domain5. Here are lines in the original, each with our own plain translation:
| Original | Our translation |
|---|---|
| Regnava nel silenzio2 | Silence was reigning |
| Quando rapito in estasi1 | When, swept up in rapture |
| Ah! Verranno a te sull’aure1 | Ah! They will reach you on the breeze |
| Chi mi frena in tal momento1 | Who holds me back in such a moment |
| Tombe degli avi miei2 | Tombs of my ancestors |
Mad scene and orchestration
The mad scene is set in Act 3, Scene 21. Per Donizetti’s original score, a glass harmonica is substituted for solo flute in Lucia’s mad scene1. The first flute has a very elaborate solo role in the mad scene3. Check which instrument your edition and your conductor use before you plan the cadenza.
Il dolce suono turns up in E. M. Forster’s Where Angels Fear to Tread1.
Background
Donizetti was born on 29 November 1797 and died on 8 April 18486. He was best known for his more than 70 operas6. Cammarano, an Italian librettist and playwright, lived from 19 March 1801 to 17 July 18525.
Language and diction notes
The libretto is in Italian1, so the rules in Italian diction for singers apply throughout.
Where to go next
Two more Italian scores to study are La traviata and L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti’s comedy. For transcription practice, see IPA for singers.
