Opera is well known as the friend of melodrama and, in the case of Donizetti’s Lucia, there’s no stinting. It has it all – blood, murder and madness, set in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands (it’s based on Walter Scott’s The Bride of Lammermoor). Bucking the trend, the new production at Opera Holland Park plays it straight (there are even a few kilts thrown in as a nod to its setting) and goes for full Gothick with a silent wraith present throughout – she may be Lucia’s mother or perhaps a representation of Lucia’s own death to come. A cemetery is the set on the stage’s front apron, complete with a waiting open grave. You know what to expect before a single note has been played.
Jennifer France as Lucia Ashton and Blaise Malaba as Raimondo Bidebent
The plot is simple with more than a touch of Romeo and Juliet about it. Lucia and Edgardo are in love and vow to marry but there is a deadly feud between the two families. Lucia’s brother, Enrico, needs to save the family fortunes and deceives her into believing that Edgardo has betrayed her. He then bullies her into marrying the wealthy Lord Arthur instead. When she discovers that Edgardo still loves her (he now believes she’s betrayed him), she goes mad and murders her bridegroom. She is already on her deathbed when Edgardo discovers she loved him all along and kills himself in the hope they will be reunited in the hereafter.
It was a story that provided Donizetti with a platform for some of his most wonderful bel canto music and OHP has provided a cast that does it absolute justice. To start with the smaller parts, Charlotte Badham gives a delightful, fully nuanced performance as Alisa, Lucia’s maid and friend. Blaise Malaba brings his resonant tones to the role of Chaplain Raimondo and, as the two baddies, Joseph Buckmaster as Lord Arthur and Morgan Pearse as Lucia’s brother couldn’t be more dastardly. Together with the chorus – always musically inspiring though here given unusually little to do in terms of the action – the supporting cast is uniformly excellent.
Jennifer France as Lucia Ashton and José de Eça as Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood
The two main roles are little short of sublime. José de Eça is Portuguese but his singing absolutely nails the Italianate bel canto of Donizetti’s most luscious melodies. As Lucia herself, Jennifer France is a revelation. Her characterisation of Lucia – from her playful, light-hearted early scenes to her devastation at discovering the deceit perpetrated on her by her brother and her descent into madness – is compelling. But it is her voice that will stay with you. Her top notes (and there are plenty of them) are stupendous and she shoulders this mighty role with total confidence.
In the centre of the action, as always, is the City of London Sinfonia who play with gusto under Michael Papadopoulos, substituting the score’s suggested glass harmonica in the mad scene with a flute as is generally the case nowadays. It’s Opera Holland Park’s unmissable show of the season. You’d be mad not to see it.
Performances of Lucia di Lammermoor run at Opera Holland Park on 24th, 26th and 30th July, and 1st August. For more information, and for tickets, please visit operahollandpark.com.
Photos by Ali Wright
