Lyric Opera 2019-2020 Issue 3 Luisa Miller

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 19 PRODUCTION SPONSORS Julie and Roger Baskes Henry and Gilda Buchbinder Family Foundation Liz Stiffel The Nelson Cornelius Production Endowment Fund SYNOPSIS Time mid-19th century | Place Tyrol Act one Luisa, the daughter of an old soldier, is in love with a young man she knows as Carlo but who is actually Rodolfo, son of the local lord, Count Walter. The two lovers proclaim undying fidelity, but Miller, Luisa’s father, is dubious. His fears are confirmed when Walter’s retainer, Wurm, who also loves Luisa and hopes to marry her, reveals Rodolfo’s true identity. In Walter’s castle, Wurm tells his master of Rodolfo’s love for Luisa. Walter resolves to break up their relationship because it is in his interests to have his son marry his niece, the widowed Duchess Federica. Left alone with Federica, Rodolfo confesses to her that he loves another, but the duchess, who has worshiped him since childhood, refuses to break their engagement. At home, Miller tells Luisa that Carlo is in fact Rodolfo and that he has deceived her, intending to marry a wealthy woman. The young man, however, arrives to plead the sincerity of his love. When Walter storms in and is about to have both Luisa and her father sent to prison, Rodolfo secures their freedom by threatening to reveal how his father, with Wurm’s assistance, murdered his cousin to gain his present position. Act two Luisa learns that her father, who sprang to her defense after Walter called her a whore, has been jailed for insulting the Count. Wurm tells her the only way she can save Miller is to write a letter admitting she sought Rodolfo for his wealth, and pledging herself to Wurm. After doing his bidding, she learns she must go to the castle and declare her love for him before the duchess. Wurm presents Luisa’s letter to Walter, and the two plot to send it to Rodolfo. Wurm then brings in Luisa. Goaded on with threats by Wurm and Walter against her father, she professes her love for Wurm to Federica. Rodolfo receives Luisa’s letter in the castle courtyard. In despair, he is about to attack Wurm when Walter appears and persuades him that marrying Federica will be the best way for him to avenge Luisa’s treachery. Act three After returning home from prison, Miller tries to comfort Luisa and realizes that she plans to commit suicide; he persuades her against it. The two agree to leave the village the next day. As Luisa prays, Rodolfo appears and pours a vial of poison into a decanter on the table. He confronts Luisa with the letter. When she cannot deny she wrote it, Rodolfo asks her to pour him a drink. When she says it tastes bitter, she swallows some, too. Rodolfo tells Luisa the cup was poisoned, and she, released from her vow, tells him the truth. As Luisa dies in Miller’s arms, Rodolfo shoots Wurm and dies. This synopsis originally appeared in the San Francisco Opera program. LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO Anthony Freud General Director, President & CEO Sir Andrew Davis Music Director Enrique Mazzola Music Director Designate Renée Fleming Creative Consultant Production owned by San Francisco Opera. Scenery construction and painting by the San Francisco Opera Scenic Shop. Costumes fabricated by the San Francisco Opera Costume Shop. Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the NIB Foundation Italian Opera Endowed Chair and the Guild Board of Directors Verdi Endowed Chair. Lyric Opera of Chicago wishes to thank its Official Airline, American Airlines. Projected English titles © by Philip Kuttner Supertitles for Luisa Miller are provided by the San Francisco Opera Association. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS Act One 55 minutes Intermission 30 minutes Acts Two & Three 1 hour, 20 minutes Total 2 hours, 45 minutes