‘Lucia Di Lammermoor’ Takes the Tragic Tale to the Local Stage

Tragic stories, be it in books, films, or theater plays, are often stories not that easy to forget. When the last page flips, the credits roll, or when the curtains close, there's always that lingering pain and thought that you hope it didn't end that way. But that's how it goes, and it's just proof that you were indeed, immersed in that tragic tale.

One of Italy's well-known tragic tales told through an opera is Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor, which was based on Sir Walter Scott's The Bride of Lammermoor. A tale of love and tragedy, Donizetti's opera with Salvadore Cammarano's libretto, has been breaking hearts since 1835.

This January, the tale comes to the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Main Theater through a partnership between the CCP, Rustan Group of Companies, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and the Embassy of Italy Manila. It will premiere on January 31, 8PM with a matinee screening on February 2, 3PM. On the lead is French soprano Melody Louledjian and Filipino tenor Arthur Espiritu.

Lucia Di Lammermoor's main protagonist is Lucia Ashton of the Lammermoor Castle, who fell in love with one of her family's political enemies, Edgardo Di Ravenswood. When the man leaves for a political mission, Lucia's scheming brother had their letters to each other intercepted, in order for her to marry another man. When she falls into her brother's trap, Lucia gets caught up in miserable circumstances leading to the opera's biggest highlight— her descent to madness.

“We are very excited to bring Lucia di Lammermoor to the Philippines. One of the greatest bel canto roles in all the operas, Lucia is quite challenging to perform.  It has been challenging for us to find the best opera singer who would fit the role, and I'm so glad we found the right person to take the role,” shared Rustan Group of Companies chairman and CEO Zenaida R. Tantoco.

Directed by Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, with assistant director Prince Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong, also part of the opera's cast are bass Shi Zong as Raimondo Bidebent, a Calvinist chaplain; mezzo-soprano Camille Lopez-Molina as Alisa, Lucia's handmaid; tenor Nomher Nival as Normanno, a huntsman and retainer of Enrico. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra provides live orchestral accompaniment with Maestro Alessandro Palumbo on the baton. They will be joined by choral group Viva Voce Voice Lab, with guest singers from the various music schools in Manila and Iloilo.

Woe, misery, and despair; watch the tragedy unfold at the CCP this January 31 and February 2. Tickets are available through the CCP Box Office at 8832-3704, and through Ticketworld via their website and outlets (8891-9999). Prices are as follow:

For more information, visit the CCP website.