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LA DONNA DEL LAGO (The Lady of the Lake) By Gioachino Rossini Melodramma in two acts (2h
15m) Libretto by Andrea Leone
Tottola, after the poem The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott (1810) PREMIERES 24 October 1819,
Teatro San Carlo, Naples; UK: 18 February 1823, King’s Theatre, Haymarket,
London; US: 26 August 1829, New York CAST Giacomo (James) V
(Uberto of Snowdon) t, Douglas of Angus b, Rodrigo of Dhu t, Elena s, Malcolm
Groeme a, Albina s, Serano 4 Bertram t nub chorus of Scottish shepherds and
shepherdesses, bards, Scottish lords and ladies, Clan Alpine warriors,
huntsmen, royal guards ORCHESTRATION
2f1/2picc,2ob,2c1,2bsn,4hn,2tpt,3 trbn, limp, bd, cym, triangle, hp, sIr,
onstage: 6 hn, band SYNOPSIS In 16th-century Scotland,
King Giacomo V is trying to subdue the Alpine ans of the Highlands. Among the
Highlanders are the chieftain Rodrigo (Roderick) of Dhu, Malcolm Groeme and
Douglas of Angus. Act I At dawn, around Lake
Katrine, the shepherds return to work (‘Del dl la messagiera’). Elena crosses
the lake on a small boat, singing of her love for Malcolm (‘Oh mattutini
albori!’). She comes across Uberto (King Giacomo in disguise), who claims to
have lost his fellow huntsmen. He is struck by her beauty. She offers him
hospitality, and they sail to the island in the middle of the lake, the site
of her father’s cottage. Huntsmen appear, vainly looking for Uberto (‘Uberto!
ah! dove t’ascondi?’). In the cottage, Uberto learns that Elena’s father is
Douglas, once a trusted follower of the king — now a rebel against his rule.
Douglas, sheltered by the warnor Rodrigo, has agreed to reward him with
Elena’s hand. Elena’s friends sing of her imminent wedding with Rodrigo
(‘D’lmbaca donzella’). She alludes to her love for another, and the
infatuated Uberto mistakenly imagines himself to be the fortunate one (‘Le
mie barbare vicende’). Everyone leaves, and Uberto is escorted back to shore.
Malcolm, returning to the island after a long absence, enters the deserted
room and sings of his love for Elena (‘Elena! oh tu, che chiamo!’). Serano
informs him that Rodrigo’s troops are gathering in a valley nearby. Hearing
Elena and Douglas enter the room, Malcolm hides. Elena angers her father by
resisting the wedding (‘Tad, lo voglio’). When Douglas leaves, Elena and
Malcolm swear they will die rather than renounce their mutual love (‘Vivere
io non potrô’). In the valley, Rodrigo is joyously received by his warriors
(chorus ‘Qual rapido torrente’ and cavatina ‘Eccomi a voi, miei prodi’).
Douglas leads in Elena, and Rodrigo is struck by her lack of enthusiasm
(chorus ‘Vieni, o stella’ and first finale ‘Quanto a quest’alma amante’).
Malcolm joins them; his reaction on hearing of Elena’s engagement leads
Rodrigo to suspect Elena’s secret love. But the royal troops are approaching,
and everyone joins the bards in a warlike chorus (‘Già un raggio forier’). Act II Uberto desires to see Elena
again, in order to declare his love (‘Oh fiamma soave’). Disguised as a shepherd,
he reaches the cavern where Elena is taking shelter during the battle. She
reveals her love for Malcolm. Respecting her feelings, he gives her a ring
that he claims to be a gift from the king: should she or her family ever be
in danger, she must show the ring to the king in person, and he will protect
her. When Rodrigo arrives, Uberto declares himself to be on the king’s side
(‘Alla ragion deh neda’). The two challenge each other to a duel and leave
together. Malcolm is lamenting his loss of Elena (‘Ab si pera: ormai la
morte’) when he hears that the Alpine Clan has been defeated by the royal
troops and that Rodrigo is dead. Douglas goes to the royal castle of Stirling
and offers his life to the king in exchange for his people’s safety. Elena
also goes to the castle, to beg mercy for her father by showing the ring. In
the final scene in the throne hail, Elena hears Uberto singing (‘Aurora! ah
sorgerai’); when she sees him before the assembled court, she realizes that
Uberto is actually the king. Giacomo forgives Douglas and Malcolm and joins
the latter in marriage with Elena, who rejoices in her happiness (‘Tanti
affetti in tal momento’). RECORDING Ricciarelli,
Valdenassi, Valentini Terrani, Gonzáles, Ramey, Raffanti,
Di Credico, D’Uva, Philharmonic Ch of Prague,
CO of Europe, Pollini, CBS, 1983: complete
recordin& live from the Rossini Opera Festival, based on the
critical edition ED~ONS f.s., Fondazione
Rossini, 1990; v.ss., Carl, 1822—3; Fondazione
RossinifRicordi (on hire), 1981 Viking Opera Guide Back
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