DONNA DEL LAGO Romantic Opera by Gioachino Rossini
Opera Romantic & Fantastique
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2h 26m
Language: Italian
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish
La donna del lago (English: The Lady of the Lake) is an opera composed by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, based on the French translation of The Lady of the Lake, a narrative poem written in 1810 by Sir Walter Scott, whose work continued to popularize the image of the romantic Scottish Highlands.
It was the first of the Italian operas to be based on Scott's romantic works, and marked the beginning of romanticism in Rossini's work. Scott was "deeply influential in the development of Italian romantic opera" to the extent that by 1840 (barely 20 years after this opera), there were 25 Italian operas based on his works, the most famous being Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor of 1835.
Scotland under King James V (reigned 1513–1542) was in a state of unrest. Amongst the rebels were Douglas (Elena's father), Rodrigo (to whom she has been betrothed) and Malcolm (whom she loves). The King is in the habit of going about his lands disguised as Uberto. Seeing Elena he instantly falls in love with her, but she repels his advances stating that he is confusing hospitality and friendship for romantic interest. In the meantime he has realised that she is related to his enemies. The clans gather to overthrow the king, and Rodrigo and Douglas discover Elena's secret love for Malcolm. She tries to keep the peace, but the call to arms diverts the soldiers. The battle does not go well, and Rodrigo is killed. Again the king in disguise encounters Elena and gives her a ring to take to the king if she is ever in trouble. She decides to use it and goes to Stirling Castle where she finds that both Malcolm and Douglas are prisoners. She pleads their cases, and the king magnanimously pardons them and blesses the union, now unimpeded by Rodrigo, between Elena and Malcolm.
Director: Max Emanuel Cencic (Director), Antonio Greco (Music Conductor), George Petrou (Music Director)
Cast: Elena (Lena Belkina), Malcolm (Max Emanuel Cencic), Giacomo V (Daniel Behle), Rodrigo (Juan Francisco Gatell), Duglas (d´Angus Daniel Golossov), Albina (Delphine Gillot), Serano (Tristan Blanchet), Bertram (Aurélien Reymond-Moret), Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Choir of the Opéra de Lausanne
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