When two families, the Lammermoors and the Ravenwoods, of Scotland perpetuate their sworn enmity, two innocent victims, Lucia di Lammermoor and Edgardo Ravenswood, suffer terribly. Their secret love will be stirringly revealed in the dramatic opera “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti. The Opera Theater of Connecticut will bring the majesty and momentum of this soaring work to life this week at the air-conditioned Andrews Memorial Theater, 54 East Main Street, Clinton on Tuesday, August 7, Thursday, August 9, Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 12 at 6 p.m. Opening night will include a gala reception.
From the opening notes of the fine orchestra led by Kyle Swann, the somber mood is translated across the Scottish moors. This is no light and frivolous scene. The Lammermoor family, led by a dark and dangerous Enrico, with a rich baritone thanks to a dynamic David Pershall, has fallen on hard times. In order to recoup its power and wealth, he has planned a marriage for his sister Lucia to the fortunes of Arturo.
Lucia, captured with lyrical perfection by colortura soprano Amanda Hall, is still reeling from the recent death of her mother, but she has set her heart on Edgardo, her family’s sworn enemy. She has been seen meeting him secretly on the castle grounds by Normanno, the head of the guards, a determined tenor Jorge Prego, who informs Enrico of her treacherous acts. To add more fuel to the already incendiary flames, Lucia’s maid Alicia, a lovely mezzo-soprano Karolina Wojteczko, foresees danger and disaster when she imagines the ghost of a dead girl. Despite the premonition of doom, Lucia and Edgardo, a most majestic tenor Luigi Boccia, pledge their undying love for each other.
Enrico will not be deterred. He will see Lucia married to Arturo, an affable tenor Michael-Paul Krubitzer, and forges a letter from Edgardo, who has traveled to France, that leads Lucia to believe he has been unfaithful. Reluctantly she is pressured into marrying Arturo but the act leads her to madness and she kills him in their wedding bed.
The scene of her madness is powerfully beautiful as Amanda Hall's Lucia slowly unravels, imagining Edgardo will be hers forever. Their love will be eternal, but it will be in heaven where they are reunited…in death. Lucia’s chaplain Raimondo, an enterprising bass Daniel Hague, is too late to stop the bloodshed but declares Lucia is the “victim of a cruel brother” and Enrico finally realizes, too late, what his scheme for wealth has spawned.
Opera Theater of Connecticut was founded in 1986 to help professional artists hone their craft and to encourage the public to experience high quality productions affordably and intimately. To that end, Artistic Director Alan Mann personally conducts Opera Talk, an informal, informative talk about that evening’s opera and composer, one hour and a half. before the performance ($5.00). Boxed suppers Al Fresco Style from Chips Pub III can be pre-ordered for $15 two days in advance by calling 860-669-8999. The opera will be sung in Italian with Supertitles to enhance understanding and enjoyment.
Get caught up in the passion and glory of this tragic tale as two Scottish families, the Ravenswoods and Lammermoor, carry on a feud that leads to the ultimate price.
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