La donna del lago, melodramma in two acts to a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, was first performed at Teatro San Carlo, Naples, on 24th September 1819. The singers in the first performances were Giovanni David (Giacomo), Michele Benedetti (Douglas), Andrea Nozzari (Rodrigo), Isabella Colbran (Elena), Rosmunda Pesaroni (Malcolm), Maria Manzi (Albina), Gaetano Chizzola (Serano), Massimo Orlandini (Bertram).
The story is taken from The lady of the lake by Walter Scott (1810).

During the reign of James V of Scotland, the Highland clans (called «Alpine clans» by the librettist) from the mountainous regions near Stirling, resisted the King’s armies sent to conquer the region, which had not yet cone under his control. Giacomo Douglas, Lord of Botwel, uncle of the Lord of Angus, and the King’s preceptor, was involved in his nephew’s downfall, and therefore banished and hounded out of Stirling. He found refuge with Roderico di Dhu, head of the Highlanders, and Douglas, in gratitude, promised him the hand of his daughter Elena in marriage, although she is secretly in love with Malcolm Groeme, who left the Court to follow her to her country retreat. Meanwhile, the King, disguised as a simple huntsman, whilst pursuing a stag on the rocky heights of Benledi, meets this young lady, sitting in solitude gazing at Lake Kattrine; this is her sole daily pastime, so people have come to call her the Lady of the Lake. She offers him hospitality in the most courteous manner, welcoming him under her roof; he becomes so enamoured of her that, not considering the possible consequences, he visits her again in a different disguise. Roderico comes upon them together and challenges the stranger to a duel, but is mortally wounded in the fight. Meanwhile the royal troops defeat the clansmen and James becomes uncontested lord of all; wishing to show his clemency the King pardons everyone, embraces Douglas himself, and, putting aside his own feelings of love, unites Elena and Malcolm in marriage.