Music by
Lucie | Lisette Oropesa | |
Edgard | John Osborn | |
Henry | Florian Sempey | |
Raimond | Nicolas Courjal | |
Lord Arthur Bucklaw | Yu Shao | |
Gilbert | Sahy Ratia |
Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor is a masterpiece of Italian opera, based on Walter Scott's novel. The work had its triumphant premiere in Naples in 1835 and quickly became one of the most popular operas of the 19th century. It tells the story of Lucia, a young woman who is forced into marriage and ultimately kills her husband on their wedding night. The most famous scene in the opera is Lucia's mad scene, which is considered one of the most iconic in the history of opera.
Donizetti also had an important career in Paris, where he created or adapted some of his masterpieces. In 1839, the composer adapted Lucia di Lammermoor to French standards, creating a new version of the opera called Lucie de Lammermoor. This French version of the opera includes significant changes from the original, such as changes in the libretto, orchestration and additional arias. These changes can affect the overall tone and atmosphere of the opera, as well as the way in which the audience experiences the story. Despite these differences, both versions of the opera are considered masterpieces and are beloved by audiences around the world.
This rare version of the opera is brought to life by the musical forces of the Opéra de Lyon, directed by Daniele Rustioni. The cast, featuring Pene Pati, Florian Sempey and Nicolas Courjal, is made up of some of the finest performers of the new generation. Additionally, opera fans will be thrilled to see Lisette Oropesa, considered one of the best performers of the role of Lucie, making her debut in the French version and at the Festival. Don't miss this opportunity to see this classic opera in a unique and exciting way.
Lisette Oropesa appare più a suo agio rispetto alla recente produzione scaligera in versione italiana. Chailly le chiedeva un’intensità drammatica che forse non è la sua tazza di tè; e il soprano rispondeva da grande artista mettendo a disposizione tutte le sue risorse di tecnica e temperamento. Però in altre occasioni avevo sentito la voce più libera e il canto più alato. Con Daniele Rustioni Lisette Oropesa torna ad essere la vocalista che ricordavo senza nulla perdere quanto a intensità espressiva. Si potrebbe pensare che Lucie la favorisca rispetto alla consorella, ma non è così avendola ascoltata anche in altre produzioni della versione italiana. Certo in “Que n’avons-nous des ailes” ha modo di sfoggiare tutta la grazia, l’eleganza che le sono proprie, con una vocalizzazione nitida, trilli perfetti; per non parlare delle messe di voce, del legato, dei picchettati, degli acuti e sopracuti in pianissimo o sul forte; insomma tutto l’armamentario della grande virtuosa è ben presente. L’aria e la cabaletta della pazzia sono nella tonalità originale, quindi un tono sopra rispetto alle esecuzioni correnti, connotazione che restituisce al personaggio un'ulteriore siderale lontananza, perso in una dimensione già ultraterrena. Niente sopracuti conclusivi e cadenza alla fine della prima parte molto elaborata e d’effetto. Ma se la vocalista entusiasma l’interprete non è da meno e dà vita a una Lucie fragile ma non esangue, liricissima, dolce, però capace di momenti di rivolta, unica donna in questa versione a fronte di un universo maschile dominatore e soverchiante. Insomma una prova maiuscola a cui il pubblico risponde con vere e proprie ovazioni.Lisette Oropesa appears more comfortable compared to the recent Scala production in the Italian version. Chailly was asking her for a dramatic intensity that perhaps is not her cup of tea; and the soprano responded as a great artist by bringing all her technical and temperamental resources to the disposal. However, on other occasions I had heard her voice freer and her singing more winged. With Daniele Rustioni, Lisette Oropesa returns to being the vocalist I remembered without losing any expressive intensity. One might think that Lucie favors her over her sister, but it's not so, as I've also heard her in other productions of the Italian version. Sure enough in "Que n’avons-nous des ailes" she gets to show off all the grace and elegance that are hers, with clear vocalization, perfect trills; not to mention the voice mass, the legato, the staccato, the high and extreme high notes in pianissimo or on the forte; in other words, all the weaponry of the great virtuoso is well present. The aria and the insanity cabaletta are in the original key, therefore a tone above compared to current performances, a connotation that gives the character an additional astral distance, lost in an already otherworldly dimension. No final high notes and a very elaborate and effective cadenza at the end of the first part. But if the vocalist thrills, the interpreter is no less and gives life to a fragile but not bloodless Lucie, very lyrical, sweet, but capable of moments of rebellion, the only woman in this version to face a male-dominated and overwhelming universe. In short, a major test to which the audience responds with genuine ovations.— Silvano Capecchi • Opera Click
La distribution comprend à la fois des chanteurs français et pour les deux principaux protagonistes des artistes américains. Lisette Oropesa qui incarne Lucie s’est illustrée depuis un certain nombre d’années aussi bien dans les rôles de soprano léger comme Adina de L’Elixir d’Amour, Norina de Don Pasquale ou Marie de La Fille du régiment mais également dans des rôles de soprano lyrique comme Violetta de La Traviata ou Gilda de Rigoletto. Dotée d’un registre aigu très étendu qui lui permet de briller sur toutes les vocalises avec une virtuosité confondante, elle est ici l’interprète idéale de Lucie faisant valoir dans ce rôle un médium conséquent mais aussi une ampleur vocale dans le haut registre tout en ciselant à merveille ses vocalises. De surcroît l’interprète est complètement engagée dramatiquement et a obtenu, comme il fallait s’y attendre, un véritable triomphe après son air de la folie du 3ème acte.The cast includes both French singers and, for the two main protagonists, American artists. Lisette Oropesa, who plays Lucie, has been distinguished for a number of years in both light soprano roles such as Adina in *L'Elisir d'Amore*, Norina in *Don Pasquale*, or Marie in *La Fille du régiment*, and also in lyric soprano roles like Violetta in *La Traviata* or Gilda in *Rigoletto*. Possessing a very extensive high register that allows her to excel in all the coloratura with astounding virtuosity, she is here the ideal interpreter of Lucie, showcasing in this role a significant middle voice but also a vocal breadth in the upper register while exquisitely sculpting her coloratura. Moreover, the performer is completely engaged dramatically and, as expected, achieved a real triumph after her mad scene in the third act.— Christian Jarniat • Résonances Lyriques
Heureusement, l’héroïne a toujours pour briller et s’envoler ses coloratures (virtuosités dans l’aigu de la voix), notamment avec une performance comme celle de Lisette Oropesa qui lui donne une grâce de gymnaste vocal. Telle une patineuse artistique, elle fait bondir et tournoyer sa ligne, tout en contrôlant le souffle pour flotter et le legato pour retomber tout en douceur.Fortunately, the heroine always has her coloraturas (virtuosities in the highness of the voice) to shine and ascend, especially with a performance like that of Lisette Oropesa who gives her a vocal gymnast's grace. Like an artistic skater, she makes her line leap and twirl while controlling breath to float and the legato to softly land.— Florence Lethurgez • Classy Keo
Timbre reconnaissable entre tous, Oropesa y fait preuve d’une maîtrise technique impressionnante et d'une musicalité idéale, avec agilité et suraigus faciles, en introduisant aussi de petites variations dans la reprise. Son grand air de la Folie de l'acte III, un peu resserré par rapport à la version italienne et dans une tonalité plus aiguë, véhicule une grande émotion, en particulier au cours de sa longue cadence, un véritable festival de vocalises où l’interprète nous convainc qu’elle a bien perdu la raison.With a timbre that is recognizably hers, Oropesa demonstrates staggering technical mastery and ideal musicality, displaying agility and easy high notes, while also introducing slight variations in repetition. Her grand aria from the “Madness" of act III, which is somewhat compact compared to the Italian version and in a higher key, conveys great emotion, particularly during her lengthy cadenza—a veritable festival of vocal runs—where the performer convinces us that her character has indeed lost her sanity.— Irma Foletti • Bachtrack
Finesse, fragilité, sensibilité : trois adjectifs qui s’imposent pour qualifier la Lucie de Lisette Oropesa. La soprano cubano-américaine, qui abordait le rôle en français pour la première fois de sa carrière, a plus que séduit son auditoire avec une ligne de chant tendue et puissante, armée d’un vibrato idéal et d’un art de la colorature totalement maîtrisé qui lui permet la juste expression des sentiments d’une femme subissant un destin cruel par la faute d’un frère avide de vengeance et de pouvoir.Finesse, fragility, sensitivity: three adjectives that are essential to describe Lisette Oropesa’s Lucia. The Cuban-American soprano, who tackled the role in French for the first time in her career, more than captivated her audience with a taut and powerful vocal line, armed with an ideal vibrato and a totally mastered art of coloratura that allows her the accurate expression of the emotions of a woman suffering a cruel fate because of a brother greedy for revenge and power.— Michel Egea • Concert Classic
Si Lisette Oropesa est l’une des Lucia les plus renommées du moment, cette Lucie française constitue une prise de rôle pour la soprano américaine, qui délivre ici une prestation d’exception. La diction française est excellente : l’intelligibilité des paroles est quasi constante – mais aussi l’intelligence du texte : de toute évidence, Lisette Oropesa comprend parfaitement ce qu’elle chante, et cela s’entend. Vocalement, tout est au rendez-vous : agilité, suraigus superbes, mais surtout une émotion constante, avec une très belle progression dramatique. Sa scène de folie est absolument mémorable : elle commence dans une forme de sidération froide avant de basculer dans l’émotion hallucinée. Quand Lisette Oropesa entame « À toi ma vie… », le public, subjugué, semble carrément en apnée ! Elle nous gratifie d’ornements virtuoses (très) généreux, alterne à nouveau avec un détachement impassible (« Mais je ne suis point parjure »), et finit dans le délire et l’exaltation, le tout porté, toujours, par une technique infaillible (« Je vais loin de la terre » : variante de « Je vais quitter la terre » ?…). La chanteuse obtient un véritable triomphe, parfaitement justifié.If Lisette Oropesa is one of the most renowned Lucias of the moment, this French Lucie is a role debut for the American soprano, who delivers an exceptional performance here. The French diction is excellent: the intelligibility of the words is almost constant - but also the understanding of the text: evidently, Lisette Oropesa fully understands what she is singing, and it shows. Vocally, everything is in place: agility, superb high notes, but above all, continuous emotion, with a very beautiful dramatic progression. Her mad scene is absolutely memorable: it begins in a form of cold shock before slipping into hallucinated emotion. When Lisette Oropesa begins "À toi ma vie...", the audience, captivated, seems to be completely breathless! She graces us with generously (very) virtuosic ornamentation, again alternating with a detached impassivity ("Mais je ne suis point parjure"), and ends in delirium and exaltation, the whole always supported by unfailing technique ("Je vais loin de la terre": a variation of "Je vais quitter la terre"...?). The singer achieves a real triumph, perfectly justified.— Pascal Lelièvre • Premiere Loge Opera