Lucia di Lammermoor Is April 7, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: The April 7, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is Lucia di Lammermoor by 19th century Italian bel canto opera composer Gaetano Donizetti.

Nineteenth century Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor is the April 7, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 22, 2018

Lucia di Lammermoor, a three-act opera about star-crossed lovers by 19th century Italian bel canto opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848), is the April 7, 2018, Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcast.

Italian librettist Salvadore Cammarano (March 19, 1801-July 17, 1852) wrote the Italian libretto. His subsequent collaborations as Donizetti’s librettist comprise Belisario (1836), L’Assedio di Calais (1836), Pia de’ Tolomei (1837), Roberto Devereux (1837), Maria de Rudenz (1838), Poliuto (1838) and Maria di Rohan (1843).

The literary source for Cammarano’s libretto is The Bride of Lammermoor, published in 1819 as a historical novel by Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott (Aug. 15, 1771-Sept. 21, 1832). Sir Walter Scott wrote in the novel’s introduction that the star-crossed tragedy was based on real-life events of the late 17th century in southwestern Scotland involving Janet Dalrymple, oldest daughter of James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair, Ayrshire; her secret betrothal to family political enemy Archibald, third Lord Rutherfurd; and Janet’s forced marriage to David Dunbar, heir of Sir David Dunbar of Baldoon Castle, Wigtownshire.

Lucia di Lammermoor premiered Sept. 26, 1835, at Teatro di San Carlo, Naples. Donizetti composed Lucia di Lammermoor in fulfillment of his contract as artistic director to create new operas for Teatro di San Carlo.

Twelve performances of Lucia di Lammermoor are scheduled for the 2017-2018 Met Opera season. Opening night, Thursday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time marks the opera’s 600th performance at the Metropolitan Opera. The month’s two additional performances take place Monday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, March 30, at 8 p.m.

Six performances are scheduled for April, beginning Tuesday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. The opera’s Saturday matinee broadcast is scheduled for Saturday, April 7, at 12:30 p.m. The month’s four additional performances take place Wednesday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 28, at 8 p.m.

Three performances are scheduled for May, beginning Wednesday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. The month’s second performance takes place Saturday, May 5, at 8 p.m. Closing night is Thursday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. Closing night marks the 611th performance of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera.

Estimated run time for the three-act opera is 3 hours 27 minutes. Act I is timed for 89 minutes. An intermission of 30 minutes follows the first act. The second and final act runs for 92 minutes.

Roberto Abbado conducts all performances of Lucia di Lammermoor. His birthplace is Milan, Lombardy, northwestern Italy. The Italian conductor debuted March 3, 1994, in the Metropolitan Opera’s 60th performance of Adriana Lecouvreur by Italian composer Francesco Cilea (July 23, 1866-Nov. 20, 1950).

Update: Gareth Morrell replaces Roberto Abbado as conductor for the Tuesday, April 4, performance of Lucia di Lammermoor. He also conducts the Saturday, April 7, performance as Roberto Abbado's replacement. (Update via Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera via Twitter tweets April 3 and 6, 2018.)

Gareth Morrell's birthplace is Southport, Merseyside, North West England. The British conductor's appearance Tuesday, April 4, reprises his Metropolitan Opera debut debut Jan. 20, 1999, in Met Opera's 516th performance of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. In the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Gareth Morrell also conducts Semiramide by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868) and Tosca by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti appears in all three March performances and in two April performances (April 3, Saturday matinee broadcast April 7) in the title role as a star-crossed lover whose brother manipulates her into a fatal marriage. Her birthplace is St. Petersburg, northwestern Russia. The Russian operatic soprano debuted April 17, 2014, as Elvira in the Metropolitan Opera’s 51st performance of I Puritani by 19th century Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sept. 23, 1835).

Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti shares the role of Lucia with Jessica Pratt and Pretty Yende. Jessica Pratt appears as Lucia for the two mid-April performances, April 11 and 14. Her birthplace is Bristol, South West England. The British-born, Aussie-transplanted operatic soprano debuted Dec. 20, 2016, as the Queen of the Night in the Metropolitan Opera’s 426th performance of The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) by 18th century Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Pretty Yende appears in the title role for the 2017-2018 Met Opera season’s last five performances of Lucia di Lammermoor (April 25 and 28; May 2, 5, 10). Her birthplace is Piet Retief, Mpumalanga province, eastern South Africa. The South African operatic soprano debuted Jan. 17, 2013, as Countess Adèle in the Metropolitan Opera’s ninth performance of Rossini's Le Comte Ory. In the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Pretty Yende also appears as Adina in another Donizetti opera, L’Elisir d’Amore.

Vittorio Grigolo appears in all of March’s performances and in April’s first four performances, including the Saturday matinee broadcast April 7, as Sir Edgardo of Ravenswood, Lucia’s secret betrothed. His birthplace is Arezzo, Tuscany, north central Italy. The Italian operatic tenor debuted Oct. 16, 2010, as Rodolfo in the Metropolitan Opera’s 1,218th performance of Puccini's La Bohème. In the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Vittorio Grigolo also appears as Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca and in the title role in Les Contes d’Hoffmann by German-born French composter Jacques Offenbach (June 20, 1819-Oct. 5, 1880).

Vittorio Grigolo shares the role of Edgardo this season with Michael Fabiano. Michael Fabiano appears as Edgardo for the 2017-2018 Met Opera season’s last five performances of Lucia di Lammermoor (April 28, 28; May 2, 5, 10). His birthplace is Montclair, Essex County, northern New Jersey. The American operatic tenor debuted as Raffaele in the Metropolitan Opera’s 18th performance of Stiffelio by 19th century opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901). In the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Michael Fabiano also appears as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème.

Massimo Cavalletti appears in five performances (March 22, 26; April 3, Saturday matinee broadcast April 7, April 14) as Lord Enrico Ashton, Lucia’s manipulative brother whose hatred of the Ravenwoods unhinges his sister. His birthplace is Lucca, Tuscany, west central Italy. The Italian baritone debuted as Schaunard in the Metropolitan Opera’s 1,209th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème.

Massimo Cavalletti shares the role of Enrico this season with Luca Salsi and Quinn Kelsey. Luca Salsi appears as Enrico in the March 30 and April 11 performances. His birthplace is San Secondo Parmense, Parma province, Emilia-Romagna, northeastern Italy. The Italian baritone debuted Oct. 8, 2007, as Sharpless in the Metropolitan Opera’s 812th performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. In the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Luca Salsi also appears as Count di Luna in Verdi’s Il Trovatore and as Miller in Verdi’s Luisa Miller.

Quinn Kelsey appears as Enrico for the season’s last five performances of Lucia di Lammermoor (April 25, 28; May 2, 5, 10). The American baritone debuted March 29, 2008, as Schaunard in the Metropolitan Opera’s 1,194th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Quinn Kelsey also appears as Count di Luna in Verdi’s Il Trovatore and as Peter in Hansel and Gretel by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921).

Vitalij Kowaljow appears in the opera’s first eight performances (March 22, 26, 30; April 3, Saturday matinee broadcast April 7, April 11, April 14) as Raimondo, Lucia’s chaplain and tutor who blames the tragedy on Captain Normanno of the castle guard for apprising Enrico of trysts between Lucia and Edgardo. His birthplace is Cherkasy, central Ukraine. The Swiss-Ukrainian bass debuted March 17, 2003, as the High Priest in the Metropolitan Opera’s 24th performance of Verdi’s Nabucco.

Vitalij Kowaljow shares the role of Raimondo this season with Alexander Vinogradov, who appears in the last five performances (April 25, 28; May 2, 5, 10). His birthplace is Moscow, north central Russia. The Russian bass makes his Metropolitan Opera debut this season as Walter in the Metropolitan Opera’s 87th performance of Verdi’s Luisa Miller.

Met Opera’s 2017-2018 staging of Lucia di Lammermoor revives Mary Zimmerman’s new production, which debuted Sept. 24, 2007, in the Metropolitan Opera’s 558th performance of Lucia di Lammermoor. The American theater and opera director’s production team comprises Daniel Ostling, set designer; Mara Blumenfeld, costume designer; T.J. Gerckens, lighting designer; Daniel Pelzig, choreographer.

The opera’s original setting is in Scotland, in the aftermath of the deposal (1688) and death of King James II of England (Oct. 14, 1633-Sept. 16, 1701). The Metropolitan Opera describes Mary Zimmerman’s production as suggestive of a 19th century setting.

Lucia di Lammermoor appears as the 19th of the 2017-2018 Met Opera season’s 23 Saturday matinee broadcasts. Così fan tutte was the season’s 18th Saturday matinee broadcast. Così fan tutte aired Saturday, March 31, 2018, at 12:30 p.m.

The season’s 20th Saturday matinee broadcast is 19th century Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s Luisa Miller. Donizetti’s operatic adaptation of 18th century German philosopher and playwright Friedrich von Schiller’s Kabale und Liebe (“Intrigue and Love”) is scheduled for April 14, 2018, at 12:30 p.m.

Lucia di Lammermoor appears as the second of two Donizetti operas offered as Saturday matinee boradcasts during the 2017-2018 Met Opera season. L’Elisir d’Amore was performed February 10, 2018, at 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time as the 11th of the 2017-2018 Met Opera season’s 23 Saturday matinee broadcasts.

Online database Operabase places Gaetano Donizetti sixth place in a worldwide ranking of 1,281 composers for the five seasons from 2011/2012 to 2015/2016. Nineteenth century German composer Richard Wagner and 19th century French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet occupy fifth and seventh places, respectively.

Lucia di Lammermoor occupies place 26 in the worldwide list of 2,658 most popular operas. Places 25 and 27 are held by 19th century Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera and by 18th century Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (“The Abduction From the Seraglio”), respectively.

Lucia di Lammermoor's Metropolitan Opera debut took place Oct. 24, 1883. Prior to the 2017-2018 Met Opera season, Lucia di Lammermoor’s most recent Met Opera performances occurred during the 2014-2015 season.

The Metropolitan Opera's Repertory Report provides statistics for the opera house's operative performances. Lucia di Lammermoor is in place 14. Places 13 and 15 are occupied by 19th century German composer Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin and 18th century Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart’s Don Giovanni, respectively.

The takeaway for Lucia di Lammermoor as the April 7, 2018, Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that the 2017-2018 Met Opera season’s 19th Saturday matinee broadcast reaffirms the tragedy of star-crossed lovers from feuding families in Scotland’s equivalent of Romeo and Juliette.

Russian operatic soprano Olga Peretyatko sings the title role and Italian operatic tenor Vittorio Grigolo is Lucia's secret betrothed in the April 7, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast of 19th century Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Olga Peretyatko @OlgaperetyatkoSoprano, via Facebook March 19, 2018

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Nineteenth century Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor is the April 7, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 22, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10160310565110533

Russian operatic soprano Olga Peretyatko sings the title role and Italian operatic tenor Vittorio Grigolo is Lucia's secret betrothed in the April 7, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast of 19th century Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Olga Peretyatko @OlgaperetyatkoSoprano, via Facebook March 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/OlgaPeretyatkoSoprano/photos/a.569655883094653.1073741825.440886435971599/1739538832773013/

For further information:

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Available @ http://operabase.com/top.cgi?lang=en

"Debut: Gareth Morrell." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331336 Lucia di Lammermoor {516} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/20/1999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331336

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Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353294

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Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352451

“Debut: Vitalij Kowaljow.” MetOpera Database [Met Performance] CID: 333501 Nabucco {24} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/17/2003.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=333501

“Debuts: Annemarie Lucania, Roberto Abbado.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 315560 Adriana Lecouvreur {60} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/3/1994.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=315560

“Debuts: Jessica Pratt . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356569 Die Zauberflöte {426} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/20/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356569

“Debuts: Luca Salsi, Kevin Augustine, Tom Lee.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352090 Madama Butterfly {812} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/08/2007.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352090

“Debuts: Olga Peretyatko, Maksim Aniskin.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355442 I Puritani {51} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/17/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355442

“Debuts: Pretty Yende, Nicola Ulivieri.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354792 Le Comte Ory {9} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/17/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354792

“Debuts: Roberto Rizzi Brignoli, Vittorio Grigolo . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353598 La Bohème {1218} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/16/2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353598

Marriner, Derdriu. “Così fan tutte Is March 31, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, March 26, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/cosi-fan-tutte-is-march-31-2018-met.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “L’Elisir d’Amore is Feb. 10, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 5, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/02/lelisir-damore-is-feb-10-2018-met-opera.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "For the matinee performance of Lucia di Lammermoor on April 7, Gareth Morrell conducts, replacing Roberto Abbado. #CastChange." Twitter. April 6, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/981977465374601216

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "For this evening’s (4/3) performance of Lucia di Lammermoor, Gareth Morrell conducts, replacing Roberto Abbado. #CastChange." Twitter. April 3, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/981260173934284800

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "Lucia di Lammermoor returns to the Met stage tonight, March 22! Olga Peretyatko and Vittorio Grigolo are the doomed secret lovers in Donizetti's iconic bel canto masterpiece. Tickets from $25: bit.ly/2BrRbq3 Photos by Richard Termine/Met Opera." Facebook. March 22, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10160310565110533

Olga Peretyatko @OlgaperetyatkoSoprano. "Final dress or #luciadilammermoor ✅ now accumulation mode on for the opening! Love to sing with Vittorio Grigolo The Metropolitan Opera orchestra and chorus, Maestro Roberto Abbado and with all my colleagues! thanks to Sophia Cerovsek for almost #renoir photo." Facebook. March 19, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/OlgaPeretyatkoSoprano/photos/a.569655883094653.1073741825.440886435971599/1739538832773013/

"Performances Statistics Through October 31, 2016.” MetOpera Database > The Metropolitan Opera Archives > Repertory Report.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/Database%20Opera%20Statistics.xml