Walter Scott

Every morning at dawn, in the Lammermuir hills in Southern Scotland, the beautiful Lucia meets Edgardo of Ravenswood, a mysterious young man with whom she is in love. However, just as in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are the progeny of two feuding families and do not have the right to love each other. Lucia, a magnificent flower shattered by the violence of a society of men, is embodied by South Africa’s Pretty Yende, a rising star of the opera stage, in this production by Andrei Serban, conducted by Riccardo Frizza.

Lucia’s brother Enrico is horrified to learn she has fallen in love with his sworn enemy Edgardo. He hastily arranges her marriage to his associate Arturo. Edgardo and Lucia privately exchange rings before he leaves to fight in France. Enrico tricks Lucia into believing that Edgardo has been unfaithful. Longing for death, she signs the contract with Arturo – moments before Edgardo returns. Lucia murders Arturo in their wedding bed. His death is followed first by Lucia’s, and then by Edgardo’s.

An all-star cast assembled for the Met’s first-ever performances of Rossini’s romantic retelling of Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem The Lady of the Lake. Joyce DiDonato is Elena, the title heroine, who is being pursued by not one, but two tenors—setting off sensational vocal fireworks. Juan Diego Flórez is King James V of Scotland, disguised as the humble Uberto, and John Osborn sings his political enemy, and rival in love, Rodrigo Di Dhu. Complicating matters is the fact that Elena herself loves Malcolm, a trouser role sung by mezzo-soprano Daniela Barcellona, and that she is the daughter of Duglas (Oren Gradus), another of the king’s political adversaries. Paul Curran’s atmospheric production is conducted by Michele Mariotti.

The tragic tale of "the bride of Lammermoor" has always been a favorite of opera-goers and sopranos alike. Yet with the riveting singing actress Natalie Dessay in the title role, Lucia's plight and descent into madness take on another dimension. Joseph Calleja is an ardent Edgardo, the man she loves but is not allowed to marry. Instead, her brother Enrico forces her into a union with the rich Arturo to save the family fortunes. It proves too much to bear for Lucia.

A film following Richard the Lion-Hearted and the knight Kenneth

Based on a narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott and set against the backdrop of feudal Scotland, "La Donna del Lago" is one of Gioacchini Rossini's finest operas -- yet it's rarely performed. This video gives viewers a rare opportunity to see the work in its entirety. Filmed at Italy's famed Teatro alla Scala in 1992 and staged by German film director Werner Herzog, the opera features vocalists Ricardo Muti and June Anderson in leading roles.

Live from La Scala Wednesday 13 May 1992

This telecast offers a rare opportunity to see the legendary Joan Sutherland in the role that first catapulted her to international stardom. She drove audiences wild by the way her opulent voice caressed the music’s long phrases and sprinted effortlessly through the fiendish runs, trills, embellishments and stratospheric high notes. One of the glories of the operatic world, her portrayal of Donizetti’s hapless heroine is a multifaceted and moving characterization. The incomparable tenor Alfredo Kraus is Edgardo, the man Lucia loves but cannot have. (Performance taped November 13, 1982. Broadcasted September 28, 1983.)

Adaptación de la novela histórica de Sir Walter Scott. Ivanhoe es hijo de Sir Cedric, un caudillo sajón que se propone restaurar la estirpe sajona en el trono de Inglaterra, casando a su pupila Lady Rowena con Athelstane, el último sajón de sangre real. Pero Inglaterra está dominada por los normandos, y entre éstos y los sajones existe una gran rivalidad. Ivanhoe se enfrenta al príncipe Juan Sin Tierra, el pérfido hermano del rey Ricardo Corazón de León, que ha aprovechado la ausencia de Ricardo (prisionero del archiduque de Austria) para usurpar el trono.

Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the nobility in England was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favor with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king Richard the Lionheart. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to their homes in Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by Leopold of Austria on his return journey to England, was believed to still be in captivity.

A young knight returns to England to discover that King Richard the Lionheart has been replaced by the tyrannical Prince John, while Lady Rowena, his true love, is engaged to another man.

Bajo el marco del siglo XV, el joven escocés Quentin Durward actua como emisario de su tío para enviar sus respetos a la joven Isabel, Condesa de Macroy, con la cual se casará próximamente. Pero la opinón de la muchacha es distinta, reacia a contraer matrimonio, decide huir a Borgoña para dirigirse a la ciudad de Tours.

Durante la Tercera Cruzada, Ricardo Corazón de León se propone expulsar a los infieles de Tierra Santa. Mientras tanto, en el campo cristiano reina la discordia: Sir Gilles Amaury y Conrad de Montferrat conspiran contra el rey y, a pesar de que el fiel Sir Kenneth Huntingdon lo previene, Ricardo no le hace caso. Una noche, un arquero enviado por los conspiradores hiere gravemente al rey. En estas circunstancias, Sir Gilles Amaury expulsa a Sir Kenneth del ejército inglés. En su exilio, Sir Kenneth, descubre la conspiración urdida por Sir Gilles y logra desenmascarar a todos los hombres que han traicionado al rey Ricardo. Finalmente cristianos y musulmanes se unen en la batalla para salvar a Lady Edith del malvado Sir Gilles y devolver el poder al rey Ricardo.

A su vuelta de las Cruzadas, el Rey Ricardo Corazón de León es apresado en Austria. Su hermano Juan se niega a pagar la elevada suma de dinero que exigen a cambio de su libertad, ya que así puede seguir usurpando el trono de Inglaterra. El caballero Ivanhoe, uno de los partidarios de Ricardo, intentará por todos los medios conseguir el dinero del rescate.

Wallace Beery repeats his role of King Richard, a role he played so sucessfully in Robin Hood the previous year.

In Scotland, a young man, Lochinvar insists on marrying Ellen, the woman he loves in spite of the fact that she is betrothed to another.

Wilfred of Ivanhoe (played by King Baggot), son of Sir Cedric (played by Wallace Bosco), returns to England from the Crusades in the Holy Land. As Ivanhoe, disguised, discovers that his beloved Lady Rowena (played by Evelyn Hope) has remained faithful, two weary travelers, Isaac of York (played by Herbert Brenon) and his pretty daughter Rebecca (played by Leah Baird), are admitted to Sir Cedric's castle, but after the knights learn that Isaac has money they abduct the visitors to the Norman stronghold of Torquilstone Castle.

The “gallant young Lochinvar” and his stolen bride lead their pursuers on a merry chase