Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (2016)
A landmark filmed opera from the Opéra Bastille, Paris, featuring soprano Pretty Yende in Donizetti's timeless tragedy of love, betrayal, and madness.
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Movie Information
- Original Title: Lucia di Lammermoor
- Release Year: 2016
- Directed by: Andrei Serban
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 2h 10m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 14, 2016 (France)
- Production Companies: Opéra National de Paris
- Production Countries: France
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Plot
Every morning at dawn, in the Lammermuir hills in Southern Scotland, the beautiful Lucia meets Edgardo of Ravenswood, a mysterious young man with whom she is in love. However, just as in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are the progeny of two feuding families and do not have the right to love each other. Lucia, a magnificent flower shattered by the violence of a society of men, is embodied by South Africa's Pretty Yende, a rising star of the opera stage, in this production by Andrei Serban, conducted by Riccardo Frizza.
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Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Andrei Serban
Main Cast
- Pretty Yende
- Piero Pretti
- Oleksiy Palchykov
- Rafal Siwek
- Riccardo Frizza
Writers
- Salvadore Cammarano
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - FAQs
What is Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor about?
This filmed opera follows Lucia, a young Scottish noblewoman torn between her forbidden love for Edgardo of Ravenswood and her family's bitter rivalry with his. Like Romeo and Juliet, the story builds toward heartbreak and tragedy, driven by betrayal, manipulation, and Lucia's devastating descent into madness.
What is Lucia's famous mad scene in this opera?
Lucia's mad scene is one of opera's most celebrated moments. After being forced into a marriage and driven to the brink by grief and betrayal, Lucia loses her sanity in a harrowing, extended aria. Pretty Yende's performance of this scene in the Paris production is widely praised for its emotional intensity and vocal brilliance.
Who plays Lucia in this Paris production?
South African soprano Pretty Yende takes on the title role. At the time of this 2016 Opéra Bastille production, she was already being celebrated as one of opera's most exciting rising stars, bringing both vocal power and deep emotional vulnerability to the role of Lucia.
Where can you watch Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor?
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Is Lucia di Lammermoor based on a true story?
Not exactly. Donizetti's opera is based on Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel The Bride of Lammermoor, which was itself loosely inspired by a real 17th-century Scottish incident involving Janet Dalrymple. The opera takes considerable dramatic license, transforming the source material into a grand tragic narrative.
Who conducted this Lucia di Lammermoor production?
Italian conductor Riccardo Frizza led the Opéra National de Paris orchestra for this performance. Frizza is regarded as a leading specialist in bel canto repertoire, and his work with Donizetti's score here draws out both the lyrical beauty and dramatic urgency of the music.
What makes Andrei Serban's staging distinctive?
Romanian director Andrei Serban is known for visually bold, theatrically inventive productions. His staging of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Opéra Bastille emphasizes the oppressive power of a patriarchal society over Lucia, framing her tragedy not just as a love story but as a story of a woman crushed by forces beyond her control.
What are similar opera films to watch after this?
If you enjoyed this production, you might also explore The Metropolitan Opera: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci, Giuseppe Verdi: Il Trovatore, Aida - Arena di Verona, or Amadeus for more operatic drama on screen. Each offers a distinct take on classical music and theatrical storytelling.
More About Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
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