Review | Lucrezia Drei dazzles in Musica Viva’s Lucia di Lammermoor in Hong Kong
Despite amazing vocals, the opera by Gaetano Donizetti needs more space than offered by Hong Kong City Hall’s Concert Hall to truly shine
Lucia di Lammermoor is one of the masterpieces of bel canto opera and the title role, with its challenging combination of exquisite, stylised singing and intense, realistic drama, is among the most prized in the repertoire.
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti in 1835, the opera is based on Walter Scott’s 1819 novel The Bride of Lammermoor. Set in Scotland in the late 17th century, the story features a family feud, murder, madness and suicide, and while the plot may seem impossibly lurid, it was in fact inspired by a real-life cause célèbre.
Lucia Ashton and Edgardo Ravenswood are in love and swear to be true to each other, but must keep their betrothal secret from Lucia’s brother Enrico, who hates the Ravenswoods.
Enrico is faced with ruin and the only way to save himself is to marry his sister to the influential Arturo. He tricks Lucia into believing that Edgardo has been faithless to her and, in despair, she reluctantly agrees to marry Arturo.