LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Madder than any traditional Juliet, Lucia sends us shivering with shimmering sound hung in the air like a mist.  A slowly moving fine string of moist droplets of sound from ms. Natalie Dessay’s heart in a crystal clear spellbinding performance.

We,lucky ones in the audience at the San Francisco Opera house, who had the pleasure and delight of sharing the searing fluctuations and fibrillation of a heart tortured by manipulating men.  She sang our collective song, with us and for so many who have loved and lost.  The one man in Lucia’s family, his friends in her town who are fueled by the worse elements of her fellow countrymen determined to use her marriage to create the separation of the clans.  her feelings grew for Edgardo  (Giuseppe Filianoti* ), as his feelings for her; yet their mutual feelings were suppressed. From the moment he saved her life from a charing bull with one well placed shot, a deep affection sprouted .  This mature love blossomed as naturally as the heather in the societal cracks caused by the killing of the King.   The assent of Mary as Queen of Scots marked the shift of power from one clan to another.

The tender strumming syncopation of two hormone drenched bloodlines fumed as it perfumed the air into full blown drama in the tragic masterpiece by GAETANO DONIZETTI,  Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano. Though the same story has happened time and time again. This presentation should not be missed.

The production is pure ‘euro-trash’ stepping briskly away from the traditional over blown set design and into a visual mark of emotion by the Teatro del Maggio Musical, Florence Italy, Total Generation Separation!  Making the production possible with a generous sponsorship is Mrs. Edmund Littlefield.  Since ticket sales cover but a small part of the production costs.   The city should be grateful for the private patrons of the Opera.  Two years ago the Mayor had cut drastically the funding in all areas of the arts.  I was there at that terrible meeting when the cultural gems which make this city great, were told to suck it up and find people to fill the financial hole for future funding.
So, Guys and Gals, come out to the opera and see the timeless stories in their  full color grand splendor.

Cast
Lucia: Natalie Dessay*
Edgardo: Giuseppe Filianoti*
Enrico: Gabriele Viviani
Raimondo: Oren Gradus
Alisa: Cybele-Teresa Gouverneur*
Normanno: Matthew O’Neill
Arturo: Andrew Bidlack

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA AND THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS PARTNER TO BRING
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR FREE TO AT&T PARK ON JUNE 20