The Semantics and Pragmatics of the character of Edgardo from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor

Abstract

Lucia di Lammermoor is a universal masterpiece that stylistically combines two contrasting vocal typologies, the lyricism of Italian belcanto and the dramatism of European romantic period. The movement of the opera's action, the internal culminations, but also the general soundtrack, all these elements of characterization rally to the belcantist aesthetics, but offer an extremely great romanticism opening. The scientific analysis of the main male character – Edgardo – is based on information related on the artist who has performed in premiere cast, on studying the character evolution in terms of vocal difficulty, and on the detailed musical analysis, especially of the final aria scene. Part of analytic data is based on my own scene experience.