Jessica Pratt steals show as a stunning Lucia
SOPRANO Jessica Pratt wowed Sydney operagoers on opening night in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, one of the most coveted and challenging roles in the repertoire.
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‘‘Whoops, I may have killed Arturo again.’’ With those words bubbly soprano Jessica Pratt tweeted in celebration of her latest success in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor.
The English-born performer wowed Sydney operagoers on opening night in the title role, one of the most coveted and challenging in the repertoire, with a rollercoaster of coloratura passages and demanding key changes.
The story is based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor, in which a reluctant bride is driven to madness by her family’s treatment. In some respects, it resembles Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, with the warring Capulets and Montagues replaced by the families of Ravenswood and Lammermoor.
Pratt, who moved to this country in 1991, studied trumpet for 10 years before switching to singing. She made her operatic debut at the age of 28 (she has just turned 39).
This performance of Lucia marked her debut at the Opera House and what a compelling performance it was, as true to the score as any I have heard and delivered with poise, charm, impressive colour and radiant confidence.
EASE
She carried off the trills and thrills of the mad scene in Act III with apparent ease, no simple feat for even the most accomplished soprano
True, she had excellent support but it was incontestably Pratt’s night.
As her brother Enrico, Giorgio Cauduro’s firm and versatile baritone provided a forceful counterweight, reinforcing his opposition to Pratt’s lover, Edgardo, and his support for her wealthy suitor, Arturo.
For talented American tenor Michael Fabiano, playing Edgardo, it was a polished performance, with clear focus and a breezy confidence in the early scenes, evolving into a deeper and darker tone as the melodrama progressed.
Australian bass Richard Anderson, as Lucia’s chaplain, Raimondo, and soprano Jane Ede, as Alisa, Lucia’s maid, provided strong support, as did Scottish-born tenor John Longmuir, who played Lord Arturo Bucklaw, Lucia’s doomed bridegroom.
A rare opportunity to see one of the world’s top sopranos strutting her stuff
The set was dour: a plain stage with curtains and backdrops of swirling clouds that rose and fell.
The chorus were excellent, as usual, and conductor Carlo Montanaro deftly maintained the right momentum.
An impressive start to Opera Australia’s season, with a rare opportunity to see one of the world’s top sopranos strutting her stuff.
DETAILS
● OPERA: Lucia di Lammermoor
● STARS: Jessica Pratt, Michael Fabiano, Giorgio Caoduro, Richard Anderson, Jane Ede, John Longmuir
● AT: Sydney Opera
● UNTIL: July 27
● BOOKINGS: 9250 7777, www.sydneyoperahouse.com