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Director
Nik Ashton
Conductor
Jeremy Silver
Designer
Jessica Curtis
Cast
Lucia
Anne-Sophie
Duprels
Edgardo
Philippe Do
Enrico
Mark Stone
Raimondo
Gerard O'Connor
Arturo
Christopher Saunders
Alisa
Carole Wilson
Normanno
Ashley Catling
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Holland
Park Open Air Theatre
22
July - 9 August 2003 |
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The ruins of
Holland House make a suitably austere
and multipurpose backdrop to Opera Holland
Park's production of Lucia, an opera
which in any case benefits from a simplicity
of execution. Donizetti's opera, the
most famous of a number of operatic
adaptations of Scott's famous (though
now little-read) novel, is the prime
example of the Italian operatic romanticisation
of Scotland as a mysterious northern
land of strong emotions and the type
of family vendetta that would appeal
to any first-night Neapolitan audience.
The Scottish
flavour is introduced with the entry
of an energetic Ashley Catling as Normanno
leading a tartan army of retainers –
the Opera Holland Park Chorus who remained
fullthroated and characterful throughout
(aside from an oddly understated response
preceding the famous Mad Scene, but
perhaps they knew what was coming).
The much-anticipated Lucia of the young
French soprano Anne-Sophie Duprels had
an impressive voice and it was easy
to understand previous successes such
as Susanna (Figaro)
and Mimi (Boheme).
Given that she has the notes and confidence,
but sadly not the trills, for a Donizetti
heroine there was certainly much to
be enjoyed in her performance by an
enthusiastic first-night audience. However,
Duprels' portrayal of Lucia would have
benefited from a greater shading of
dynamics and attention to words. In
the intial Regnava nel silenzio, for
example, there was little sense of mystery,
although she was excellent in portraying
her joy in the anticipated meeting with
her lover Edgardo. In the famous Mad
Scene, Duprels made an impressive entrance,
dropping her bloody dagger from the
raised gallery onto the floor of the
Hall below her. What followed was less
elegant: a Lady Macbeth style washing
of hands, which begged the question,
combined with negotiation of steep steps
in a long nightdress. Next came an over-choreographed
scene of hyperactive insanity, medically
possible but a distraction to the heart-rending
impression that Lucia's mental anguish
and delusions should provide.
As for
the other principals, Philippe Do, a
sensitive singer with a pleasant voice
was clearly over-stretched as Edgardo
and lacked presence. Mark Stone, in
contrast, made a strong impression as
Lucia's brother Enrico, giving a well-sung
although sometimes unsubtle performance.
Gerard O'Connor was a gravely-voiced
Raimondo. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
whose residency has been such a benefit
to Opera Holland Park generally played
well under conductor Jeremy Silver,
although on occasion (notably in the
sextet) overall balance could have been
better judged.
Clive Galliver |
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