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Donizetti's Lucia di LammermoorOpera Australia, Sydney Opera House, September 28 - November 2, 2012.Photographs by Jeff Busby and Branco Gaica, courtesy of Opera Australia.
This was a new production by Opera Australia, in cooperation with Houston Grand Opera and Teatro La Fenice, following a few months after a revival of an old production by West Australian Opera, although starring the same Lucia, Emma Matthews. As can be seen from the photographs it must be in the running as the bloodiest production to date, Lucia bringing her own bucket of it just to make sure. Clive Paget, (Limelight Magazine, September 30, 2012) summed it up, "The Australian Opera and Ballet orchestra respond well to Christian Badea’s detailed musical direction, and despite a few untidy moments here and there it is an impressive interpretation. At the end of the evening, however, it’s Matthews who deservedly brought the house down with a standing ovation." David Larkin for bachtrack (September 27, 2012) also was very positive about the singing and playing but the staging left him "feeling rather visually underwhelmed [while certain] aspects of the production were dramatically puzzling." Eliza Eggler (Australian Stage, November 23, 2012) was impressed by Giorgio Caoduro as Enrico but less so by some of the smaller parts, which she felt sometimes let down the production. She found virtue in the sparse staging, writing that the "visually sombre [production] will not divert your attention with amazing sets, costumes and lighting - its foundation is the quality (or lack of quality) of the singing" and ended by saluting Matthews as the "savior of this production and fully deserving of every standing ovation she gets." The production now moves to Melbourne, December 8 - 15.
The Team
Lucia - Emma Matthews Edgardo - James Valenti Enrico - Giorgio Caoduro Raimondo - Richard Anderson Arturo - Andrew Brunsdon Alisa - Teresa La Rocca Normanno - Jonathan Abernethy
Conductor - Christian Badea Director - John Doyle Set & Costume Designer - Liz Ascroft Lighting Designer - Jane Cox
Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra Opera Australia Chorus
Edgardo
Edgardo and Lucia
The signing ceremony
Lucia
Lucia and Enrico
Lucia and Enrico
Edgardo with Raimondo looking on Top |
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© Donizetti Society and contributors, 2004-2012 |