Lucia di Lammermoor

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Lucia di Lammermoor, the remarkable co-production of the Greek National Opera with the Royal Opera House, London, returns to the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the SNFCC, on 6, 8, 10, 12, 23, 27, and 29 April, as well as on 4 and 11 May 2025. Gaetano Donizetti’s masterpiece is presented in a stunning production of high aesthetics that garnered praise in London and Athens, featuring stage direction by the renowned British director Katie Mitchell and conducted by Lukas Karytinos.

Lucia di Lammermoor, the emblematic masterpiece of romantic bel canto, is based on one of the most popular 19th-century novels, Sir Walter Scott's The Bride of Lammermoor. The opera’s premiere at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in 1835 achieved such enormous success that Lucia rightfully became recognised as the work that brought out Donizetti’s talent, despite the fact that he had already composed several notable pieces, including L’elisir d’amore, Lucrezia Borgia, and Anna Bolena among others.

The story is about Lucia’s love for Edgardo of the house of Ravenswood, a man strongly hated by her brother, Enrico Ashton. Determined to end their relationship, Enrico arranges for his sister to marry Arturo Bucklaw. During the wedding ceremony, Edgardo arrives in a furious state and starts cursing Lucia. She loses her mind, kills Arturo, and collapses. Hearing that his beloved has died, Edgardo kills himself.

Stage director Katie Mitchell attempts to gain insight into the world of 19th-century women by following the plot through the eyes of the main heroine. As a contrasting foil to the dark, male-dominated world of the North, as imagined by Sir Walter Scott, the director brings to the foreground the female perspective, situating the overall work within the literary context of the time, reminiscent of the atmosphere depicted in the works of the Brontë sisters. In collaboration with renowned British set and costume designer Vicki Mortimer, Mitchell creates a stage set divided into two parts, allowing us to observe everything that happens in every scene of the performance while witnessing simultaneous events unfolding throughout the story, bridging any gaps.

Katie Mitchell is one of the most authentic and intriguing figures in European theatre. She was an Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court Theatre in London. Since 2000, she has directed opera at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Dutch National Opera, Opéra-Comique in Paris, the Berlin State Opera, and La Monnaie in Brussels, as well as at the Aix-en-Provence and Munich Festivals, and other venues. Responsible for reviving the stage direction is Robin Tebbutt.

Acclaimed conductor and Artistic Director of the Athens State Orchestra, Lukas Karytinos, will lead the production. His longstanding journey at the Greek National Opera began in 1985. In 1992, he became the musical director of the GNO, and from 1999 to 2005, he served as its artistic director. He has conducted performances at numerous international festivals, including those in Verona, Rome, Las Palmas, Torre del Lago, and Avenches, and has collaborated with many prestigious opera houses, such as those in Berlin, Barcelona, Cologne, Monte-Carlo, Detroit, and Salzburg, among others.

The revived production of Lucia di Lammermoor features an excellent cast of both Greek and international opera stars.

In the role of Lucia, the audience will have the chance to enjoy the renowned sopranos Jessica Pratt (6, 8/4) and Vassiliki Karayanni (10, 12, 23, 27, 29/4 & 4, 11/5).

Coloratura soprano Jessica Pratt has tackled the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor in more than 117 performances in 40 different productions. This role, so closely associated with her brilliant career, will also mark her debut at the GNO. Born in Great Britain and raised in Australia, Pratt ranks among the most active sopranos of our time. In her 18-year-long journey, she has participated in 143 productions in more than 15 countries and has performed at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Teatro Real in Madrid, to name but a few.

In the second cast, we will have the chance to enjoy the exceptional soprano Vassiliki Karayanni from the GNO, who will be returning to Lucia's emblematic role. Karayanni has repeatedly starred in many productions of the Greek National Opera and has also performed successfully at some of the world’s leading opera houses, festivals, and concert halls, including the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Komische Oper Berlin, among others.

The role of Edgardo will be shared by two distinguished tenors: Ismael Jordi (6, 8, 10/4) and Yannis Christopoulos (12, 23, 27, 29/4 & 4, 11/5).

Internationally acclaimed Spanish tenor Ismael Jordi will collaborate once again with the GNO following his highly successful performance as Roméo in 2018 in the production of Charles Gounod’s opera Roméo et Juliette. After completing his studies with the esteemed Alfredo Kraus, he has performed at all of Europe’s most prestigious opera houses, as well as in Canada and Japan. He has received rave reviews for both his onstage performances and recordings.

Distinguished tenor Yannis Christopoulos from the GNO returns to the role of Edgardo, which he had performed in the same production during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. He has collaborated with all the major Greek orchestras and has performed in numerous productions and concerts at both international and Greek festivals and other theatre venues (Greek Festival, Dimitria Festival, Santorini Festival, Nicosia Festival, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Carnegie Hall, Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, and Cairo Opera House, among others).

The role of Enrico will be portrayed by the celebrated baritone from the GNO Dionysios Sourbis. Sourbis has performed at various venues, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Teatro La Fenice and Teatro Malibran in Venice, Treviso Theatre, Teatro Regio di Torino, Opera di Roma, Opéra de Rennes (France), Gran Teatro Nacional del Perú (Lima), and the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), among others.

Taking turns in the role of Raimondo will be the renowned basses Petros Magoulas (6, 10, 23, 29/4 & 11/5) and Tassos Apostolou (8, 12, 27/4 & 4/5).

Petros Magoulas has performed various roles such as Mephistopheles (Faust), Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Osmin (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Don Giovanni and the Commendatore (Don Giovanni), King Heinrich (Lohengrin), and Daland (Der fliegende Holländer), among others. He has also participated in numerous concerts and religious music works at prestigious venues abroad, including the Royal Opera House (London), Kiel Opera, Welsh National Opera, Bilbao Opera, and Israeli Opera.

Tassos Apostolou is making his comeback to the role of Raimondo, which he had also performed in the same production during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. The distinguished bass has performed at numerous venues abroad, including the UN and Lincoln Center in New York, as well as in Italy, Germany, Qatar, Switzerland, Boston, Egypt, Cyprus, and beyond. He has collaborated with all of the major Greek orchestras and has starred in ancient Greek and contemporary repertoire in productions staged at various venues, including the National Theatre of Greece, Art Theatre, Amore Theatre, Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. He has also taken on lead roles in films by Theo Angelopoulos, Maria Iliou, and other directors.

The role of Arturo will be brought to life on stage by Yannis Kalyvas. Alisa will be portrayed by Eleni Voudouraki, and Normanno by Manos Kokkonis.

The GNO Chorus will be conducted by Agathangelos Georgakatos.

Lucia di Lammermoor at a glance

The composer: Gaetano Donizetti was born on 19 November 1797 in Bergamo, Lombardy. He was an apprentice of Giovanni Simone Mayr, a German opera composer who was active mainly in Italy. His first work for the stage, Il Pigmalione, was written when he was 18 years old. Until his death, Donizetti would bequeath to Western civilization more than 70 operas. Some of his most outstanding works are: Anna Bolena (1830), L’elisir d’amore (1831), Lucrezia Borgia (1832), Maria Stuarda (1834), Lucia di Lammermoor (1835), Roberto Devereux (1837), La Fille du regiment (1839), La Favorite (1840) and Don Pasquale (1843). Although he is mostly famous for his operas, Donizetti also composed church music, string quartets, and orchestral works. He died of syphilis-caused paralysis in 1848 in Bergamo.

The opera: Lucia di Lammermoor, an opera in two parts and three acts, is based on Salvatore Cammarano’s libretto, which was inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor.

Premieres: Lucia di Lammermoor received its premiere at the Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli on 26 September 1835. Four years later, on 6 August 1839, it was performed at the Parisian Théâtre de la Renaissance based on a libretto written in French by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz and an accordingly adjusted score by Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor was first presented before the Greek-speaking audience at the Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo on Corfu, in spring 1839, when the island was still a protectorate of the United Kingdom. The same opera also inaugurated the opening of the so-called Boukoura Theatre or Theatre of Athens on 6 January 1840. The eponymous role was sung by the famous soprano Rita Basso-Borio. The Greek National Opera, founded in 1939, presented it for the first time during the German occupation, on 29 April 1943.

Synopsis

Part I: The Break Up

Sole Act

Scene 1 In the forest near Lammermoor Castle. Scotland, early 18th century. Normanno, the captain of the castle’s guard, along with the rest of the men, are searching for an intruder. He tells Lord Enrico Ashton that the man they are searching for is probably Edgardo of Ravenswood, who is coming to meet Lucia, Enrico’s sister. Enrico speaks of his hatred toward the House of Ravenswood and his resolve to end the relationship between Edgardo and Lucia.

Scene 2 A spring close to Lammermoor Castle. Lucia is waiting for her beloved Edgardo. She tells her maid, Alisa, that she has seen the ghost of a girl who was murdered there, at that very place, by a jealous ancestor of the Ravenswood family. Alisa replies that this is a warning and that Lucia must forsake her love for Edgardo. Edgardo arrives to announce that he must leave immediately for France for political reasons. However, he hopes to be reconciled with Enrico and marry Lucia. She answers that this is impossible. They both vow eternal loyalty to each other and exchange rings.

Part II: The Marriage Contract 

Act I

Scene 1 At Lord Enrico Ashton’s apartments. Determined to separate Lucia from Edgardo, Enrico shows her a forged letter, giving the false impression that Edgardo has forsaken her and fallen in love with another woman. Then, he hands her over to her tutor and priest, Raimondo, who also attempts to convince her, for the sake of her family, to forget Edgardo and marry Arturo, the husband chosen for her by Enrico.

Scene 2 In the castle’s big hall. Everything is ready for Lucia’s wedding to Arturo. Enrico excuses Lucia’s bad mood to Arturo, saying that she is in mourning for the recent loss of her mother. Right when the marriage contract is being signed, Edgardo suddenly shows up. Raimondo shows him Lucia’s signature on the document, and Edgardo accuses her of being unfaithful and curses her. He throws the ring they had exchanged as a token of their love at her feet and asks for his back. He is pushed away.

Act II

Scene 1 At Wolf’s Crag castle, later that night. Enrico is searching for Edgardo to fight a duel with him. He tells him that Lucia is already enjoying the pleasures of her bridal bed. Edgardo accepts the challenge. They will meet later that night at Ravenswood’s cemetery, close to the horrific site named “Wolf’s Crag”.

Scene 2 In the castle’s big hall. The guests are enjoying the festive wedding celebration. Raimondo arrives terrified, to announce that Lucia has lost her sanity and killed Arturo. Lucia arrives, too, imagining that she is together with Edgardo and that the two of them are soon going to be married. Enrico enters. At first, he threatens her, but once he realises her condition, he changes his attitude. Lucia collapses. Raimondo accuses Normanno of having caused the tragedy.

Scene 3 At the cemetery of the Ravenswood castle. Edgardo is resolved to die by Enrico’s sword. At first, he hears that Lucia is dying, and then Raimondo confirms her death. Edgardo kills himself, hoping to be reunited with his loved one in heaven.

Fully accessible performances of the Lucia di Lammermoor

The performances of the Lucia di Lammermoor will be fully accessible on the 12th & 23rd of April 2025, providing an inclusive audiovisual experience for all audiences in collaboration with ATLAS E.P. In this context, there will be designated seats for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and use Greek Sign Language, places for those who rely on captions (CAPS) covering the entire audio channel, as well as seats for individuals who are blind or have limited access to the visual channel of communication and use the audio description (AD) service. Guide dogs for the visually impaired will also be permitted.

Audience members who wish to use the accessibility services are requested to purchase their tickets at the GNO Box Office, over the phone at 2130885700, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you need assistance with your reservation, you can also contact ATLAS E.P. at 6993507553 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The full accessibility services for this production are funded by the Ministry of Culture, as part of the project“SUB.1.1.6 Attracting 65+ individuals and persons with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera”. This project is implemented as part of the “Greece 2.0 - National Recovery and Resilience Plan” with funds from the European Union-NextGeneration EU.