For the first time in almost 40 years, and for only the second time in the company’s history, State Opera South Australia will bring Donizetti’s ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ to Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.
The opera is known to have launched Australian soprano Dame Joan Sutherland to stardom, after her 1959 Covent Garden performance. . . And later became her signature role.
“I feel such a huge responsibility to do justice to both Donizetti’s music and Copley’s production and I think it’s important to honour the legendary foundations of this piece,” Australian Director Laura Hansford says. “I’m not looking to flip this opera inside-out, but I am excited to explore aspects of these characters, particularly Lucia, through a contemporary lens that has not been seen before.”
‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ tells a tale of love, loss and tragedy. It has all the drama of a classic grand opera: Lucia is a young woman manipulated by the men in her life, who is caught in a family feud. When she falls in love with the son of her family’s sworn enemy, Lucia is pushed to her limit. . . Finally deciding to take control of her life – with tragic consequences.
“There is scope to explore Lucia’s story told from a female perspective” Hansford says. “The ‘mad scene’ this opera is famous for is the pinnacle of Lucia’s story. I’m interested in a version where instead of pity and horror the audience might find common ground and understand Lucia’s decisions.”
Image © James Rogers
This ‘mad scene’ is often referred to the ‘Olympics of singing’. It runs for around 20 minutes, with incredibly complex notes and symphonies, making it a true challenge for the performer. The version sung in 1997 cult film ‘The Fifth Element’ is almost as iconic as the opera itself.
“This is a piece of Australian operatic history and a bel canto masterpiece, an opera rich in stratospheric vocal highs and breathtaking ensembles, that lives and dies by the quality of its singing,” State Opera Artistic Director Dane Lam says. “‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ truly requires a superstar lead and cast to perform it, and I believe Adelaide audiences are in for a real treat with an array of incredibly exciting voices.”
Australian soprano Emma Pearson will perform as Lucia. London-based Morgan Pearse plays Lucia’s brother Enrico, and Indian American Alok Kumar makes his company debut as Lucia’s love interest Edgardo.
‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ plays Her Majesty’s Theatre (Adelaide) 8-16 November.
