Lucia Di Lammermoor [CD de audio] Maria Callas, Gaetano Donizetti and Tullio Serafin

The famous romance 'The Bride of Lammermoor' by Sir Walter Scott is the basis for the opera 'Lucia di Lammermoor' by Donizetti. The libretto adapted by Salvatore Cammarano is about two lovers who come from two enemy noble families, the Ashtons and the Ravenswoods. Only in death can they unite. The theme is a bit reminiscent of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. Donizetti's composition is considered one of the major works of the bel canto era. Lucía's famous aria of madness was one of Maria Callas's strongest parts, here she was able to display all her vocal and acting magic. In this recording you can hear her and the tenor Giuseppe di Stefano in an intense performance. The opera premiered in 1835 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. It took Donizetti only 36 days to complete the work and it became his masterpiece, the most important creation of Italian opera before Verdi. Donizetti also created a French version of the play and it was a great success in Paris at the Théâtre de la Renaissance in 1839.