Gioachino Rossini
"LA DONNA DEL LAGO"
Synopsis
“… faint, from farther distance borne, were heard the
clanging hoof and horn.”
(Walter Scott)
Time and place
Scotland, 1530: in an uprising the inhabitants of Sterling, a mountainous clan, revolt against the rule of King James V. Douglas, formerly the king’s tutor, had been unfairly dis- missed and together with his daughter Ellen had to flee to the mountains. Rossini gives Walter Scott’s character Ellen an Italian name and calls her Elena. Roderick Dhu becomes simply Rodrigo and Hubert of Snowdon becomes the disguised Uberto. Rodrigo is the leader of the rebellion and Douglas and Elena take refuge with him. In gratitude Douglas promises him the hand of his daughter, somewhat rashly without knowing her true feelings. She has in the meantime decided in favour of Malcolm, a young man who, for Elena’s sake, has joined with the partisans. In complete despondency about the complicated situation Elena spends her days in contemplation on the shores of Loch Katrine in the Scottish highlands. This gives Ellen the name “The Lady of the Lake” and the opera its title translated into Italian. Loch Katrine in Scotland still attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Act 1
The opera begins on the shores of the loch. Shepherds and shepherdesses
are tending their herds, the king and his entourage are hunting in a forest
nearby. Elena rows across the loch and is anxious about her love for Malcolm.
Lost in thought she meets Uberto, who has gone off in a different direction
from the rest of the hunting party. Uberto is none other than the king,
who appears incognito to search for the beautiful and mysterious lady
of the lake. He is enchanted by Elena. She offers him hospitality and
shelter in her cottage on the other side of the loch. When Elena and Uberto
arrive there, the disguised king recognises that the young woman is the
daughter of Douglas, the man he had once unjustly banished from his court.
Elena’s friends arrive and speak full of excitement about Elena’s forthcoming
wedding to Rodrigo. Elena is tortured by worry, Uberto by jealousy. He
interprets from her words that she returns his love. He then has to go
back to his hunting party and Elena’s friend Albina rows him to the other
side of the loch. When all the others have left, Malcolm appears. He expresses
his love and his hope but also his fears because of all the confusion.
Douglas and the mountain fighter Serano arrive, Malcolm hides. From his
hiding place he overhears Douglas urging his daughter to marry Rodrigo.
He also hears how Elena tries to make excuses to gain time and how her
father then explodes in a rage. Douglas storms off; Malcolm emerges from
his hiding place and sings a beautiful love duet with Elena. The rebels
gather and celebrate their leader Rodrigo. Elena stands between Malcolm,
Rodrigo and her father Douglas.
Malcolm realises that Rodrigo intends to dispute her love for him; Douglas concedes that his daughter Elena loves Malcolm and not Rodrigo. The rebels are united only by the common enemy and so it does not come to a confrontation between the two rivals. The enemy troops advance and personal affairs have to take second place. While bards sing the customary patriotic tunes to encourage the fighters, a northern light shines in the sky. Everyone regards this as a good omen.
Act 2
The king, still disguised as Uberto, returns to the forest in order to
see Elena. He confesses his love for her. Elena rejects him, saying her
heart belongs to someone else. Uberto gives her a ring as a farewell present.
If ever she or those close to her should be in danger, with this ring
she could secure the help of the king. Dejected and melancholy Uberto
takes his leave of Elena. Rodrigo suddenly appears, immediately recognising
an enemy in Uberto and summons his warriors. The conflict ends in a duel
between Rodrigo and Uberto in which Rodrigo is killed. In the meantime
the king’s troops penetrate the territory of the rebels. Malcolm returns
because he wants to protect Elena from the royal soldiers. Instead of
Elena he only finds her friend Albina. Serano rushes in with the news
that the rebels have been beaten and Douglas has capitulated. Douglas
plans to give himself up voluntarily to the king in order to moderate
his anger and at least to save his family. Malcolm learns from Serano
that Elena is also on her way to the king. As the rebels retreat, they
lament the death of their leader Rodrigo who was killed in a duel.
When Elena arrives at the castle she hears Uberto singing of his unrequited love for her. She asks Uberto to take her to the king. Uberto reveals himself to her as the disguised king and on seeing the ring he keeps his promise: he pardons Douglas and his followers. Malcolm is the only one he excludes from his general pardon and summons him. Everyone is afraid that Malcolm is to be punished but instead of chastising him, Uberto gives him a valuable chain of precious stones and Elena’s hand in marriage. The opera comes to an end with rejoicing for the happy couple.
Kerstin Unseld
Monika Rittershaus, In Sarastro's
kingdom
Gioacchino Rossini
La Donna del Lago
Concert performance sung in Italian
Conductor Marcello Viotti
Uberto (Giacomo V. di Scozia)
Juan Diego Florez
Douglas d’Angus Luca Pisaroni
Rodrigo di Dhu Bruce Fowler
Elena Ruth Ann Swenson
Malcolm Groem Daniela Barcellona
Albina Britta Stallmeister
Serano/Bertram Steve Davislim
Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra
Concert Association of the Vienna
State Opera Chorus
Chorus master Rupert Huber
Kleines Festspielhaus
27 and 29 August 2002, 8 p.m.
Tickets are available from
the Festival Ticket Office for
the performance on 29 August in
the categories € 150 and € 190.
Telephone: 0043 662 8045-500
Telefax: 0043 662 8045-555
E-mail: info@salzburgfestival.at