Donizetti’s great opera is often seen as a vehicle for the soprano who sings the title role. But the opera’s last scene, Act 3 scene 3, which follows the Mad Scene, is as challenging for the tenor as the previous one is for the soprano. (The scene is sometimes numbered 2 as the first scene is often omitted.) It requires the full range of the 19th century romantic tenor. Indeed, Edgardo is the prototype for all the great Italian tenor roles that followed. The role was first sung by Gilbert Duprez who was the model for the spinto tenor of the big tenor roles that were subsequently composed. Below are five accounts of this great music by four of the great singers of the past and one by a tenor still active. The Italian lyrics with an English translation are also below.
The first is from the famed 1955 Berlin performance of the opera under Herbert von Karajan’s direction featuring Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano. The latters piano singing in this scene sets a bar that has yet to be raised. Di Stefano Tombe degli avi miei…Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali
Richard Tucker sang Edgardo 24 times at the Met. He partnered Joan Sutherland in her Met debut as Lucia. By the time this 1966 performance was recorded Tucker had completed his transformation into a full voiced spinto tenor. His rendition is likely closest to Duprez’s singing of the part. Tucker Tombe degli avi miei…Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali
Nicolai Gedda could sing almost anything. He had only six performances as Edgardo at the Met out of the 367 he gave with the New York company. His voice sounds a bit tired when he reaches the end of the scene. Gedda Tombe degli avi miei…Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali
Edgardo was one of Luciano Pavarotti’s most renowned roles, though he only sang it six time with the Met. This recording was made relatively early in his career and his sound is burnished and secure. Pavarotti Tombe degli avi miei…Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali
Finally, here is the Polish tenor Piotr Beczala. Edgardo was the second role he sang at the Met. Of his 108, and counting, performances in New York 10 have been as Edgardo. Beczala Tombe degli avi miei…Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali
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(Tombs of the Ravenswood family. It is night EDGARDO Oh, cruel one! Respect, |
Scena 3
Il cimitero di Ravenswood EDGARDO Oh, barbara! Rispetta, |
| (A train of mourners comes from Lammermoor Castle.)
CHORUS EDGARDO CHORUS EDGARDO CHORUS EDGARDO CHORUS EDGARDO CHORUS |
(Si avvicina una processione proveniente dal Castello di Lammermoor.)
CORO EDGARDO CORO EDGARDO CORO EDGARDO CORO EDGARDO CORO |
| EDGARDO Ah!CHORUS The marriage was a tragic blow for her, love robbed her of her reason. She is near her last hour, and moans and asks for you.EDGARDO Ah, Lucia is dying! Lucia, ah!CHORUS She will never see the close of this dawning day! love robbed her of her reason, etc.EDGARDO Will my Lucia never see the close of this dawning day?CHORUS Love for you, etc.EDGARDO Ah!CHORUS The death-knell is tolling already.EDGARDO That sound pierces my heart! My fate is sealed! |
EDGARDO Ah!CORO Fur le nozze a lei funeste, di ragion la trasse amore. S’avvicina all’ore estreme, e te chiede, per te geme.EDGARDO Ah! Lucia muore! Lucia, ah!CORO Questo dì che sta sorgendo tramontar più non vedrà! Di ragion la trasse amore, ecc.EDGARDO Questo dì che sta sorgendo tramontar più non vedrà la mia Lucia?CORO Di ragion la trasse amore, ecc.EDGARDO Ah!CORO Rimbomba già la squilla in suon di morte!EDGARDO Quel suono in cor mi piomba! È decisa la mia sorte! |
| CHORUS Oh, God!EDGARDO I must see her again.CHORUS What madness, rash man, ah, stay, ah, return to sanity!EDGARDO See her again and then…(Raimondo enters.)RAIMONDO Where are you hurrying, wretched man? She is no longer on earth.EDGARDO Lucia!RAIMONDO Unhappy man! EDGARDO RAIMONDO EDGARDO CHORUS |
CORO Oh, Dio!EDGARDO Rivederla ancor vogl’io.CORO Qual trasporto, sconsigliato, ah, desisti, ah, riedi in te!EDGARDO Rivederla e poscia…(Entra Raimondo.)RAIMONDO Dove corri, sventurato? Ella in terra più non è.EDGARDO Lucia!RAIMONDO Sventurato! EDGARDO RAIMONDO EDGARDO CORO |
| EDGARDO You who spread your wings to Heaven, o sweet loving heart, look down on me serenely, and let your true love soar up to join you. Ah, though mortal’s fury so cruelly assailed us, though we were parted on earth, may God unite us in Heaven, O sweet, loving heart, may God unite us, etc. (drawing his dagger) I will follow you…RAIMONDO Madman! Madman!RAIMONDO and CHORUS Ah, what are you doing?EDGARDO I want to die!RAIMONDO and CHORUS Come to your senses.EDGARDO No, no, no! (He stabs himself.) RAIMONDO and CHORUS RAIMONDO |
EDGARDO Tu che a Dio spiegasti l’ali, o bell’alma innamorata, ti rivolgi a me placata, teco ascenda il tuo fedel. Ah, se l’ira dei mortali fece a noi sì cruda guerra, se divisi fummo in terra, ne congiunga il Nume in ciel, o bell’alma innamorata, ne congiunga il Nume, ecc. (Trae rapidamente un pugnale.)Io ti seguo…RAIMONDO Forsennato! Forsennato!RAIMONDO e CORO Ah, che fai?EDGARDO Morir voglio!RAIMONDO e CORO Ritorna in te, ritorna. EDGARDO RAIMONDO e CORO RAIMONDO |
| EDGARDO I come to you… o dear heart…RAIMONDO Wretched man!EDGARDO …look down, ah, on your true love. RAIMONDO EDGARDO MOURNERS EDGARDO RAIMONDO CHORUS |
EDGARDO A te vengo…oh bell’alma…RAIMONDO Sciagurato!EDGARDO …ti rivolgi, ah, il tuo fedel. RAIMONDO EDGARDO CORO EDGARDO RAIMONDO CORO |
1961 My first opera with Sutherland!!! High staccati like starbursts in a night sky. Yes, she was fantastic. But it was Renato Cioni who brought tears with his Tu Che a Dio. Not a great voice, but more sincere than any others I’ve heard in this aria. I think it was the only time I cried at an opera.