Lucia di Lammermoor is Gaetano Donizzeti's most celebrated opera and the Latvian National Opera presents its wonderful production with Marina Rebeka in the title role.

Lucia di Lammermoor's plot is loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor, published in 1819. The fragile Lucia is caught in the feud between two noble Scottish families. Her dreams about happiness and love fall to pieces in the desperate race for power and fortune...

Synopsis

Act 1
The castle guard is searching for an intruder. Normanno, the captain of the guard, tells Enrico that he believes that the man is Edgardo, and that he comes to the castle to meet Lucia. It is confirmed that Edgardo is indeed the intruder. Enrico reaffirms his hatred for the family and his determination to end the relationship.
Lucia waits for Edgardo. She tells her maid Alisa that she has seen the ghost of a girl killed on the very same spot by a jealous Ravenswood ancestor. Alisa tells Lucia that the apparition is a warning and that she must give up her love for Edgardo. Edgardo enters. For political reasons, he must leave immediately for France. He hopes to make his peace with Enrico and marry Lucia. Lucia tells him this is impossible, and instead they take a sworn vow of marriage and exchange rings. Edgardo leaves.

Act 2
Preparations have been made for the imminent wedding of Lucia to Arturo. Enrico worries about whether Lucia will really submit to the wedding. He shows his sister a forged letter seemingly proving that Edgardo has forgotten her and taken a new lover. Enrico leaves Lucia to further persuasion this time by Raimondo, Lucia's chaplain and tutor, that she should renounce her vow to Edgardo, for the good of the family, and marry Arturo.
Arturo arrives for the marriage. Lucia acts strangely, but Enrico explains that this is due to the death of her mother. Arturo signs the marriage contract, followed reluctantly by Lucia. At that point Edgardo suddenly appears in the hall. Raimondo prevents a fight, but he shows Lucia's signature on the marriage contract to Edgardo. Edgardo curses Lucia.

Act 3
Enrico visits Edgardo to challenge him to a duel. They will meet by the graveyard of the Ravenswoods, near the Wolf's Crag.
Raimondo interrupts the marriage celebrations to tell the guests that Lucia has gone mad and killed her bridegroom. Lucia enters. She imagines being with Edgardo, soon to be happily married.
Edgardo is resolved to kill himself on Enrico's sword. He learns that Lucia is dying and then Raimondo comes to tell him that she has already died. Edgardo stabs himself with a dagger, hoping to be re-unified with Lucia in heaven.