[acidaho]

  Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor.......

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love Italian Opera, and in this case Donizetti's Lucia............a first time for me.

Not the typical fast moving ha ha    from Donizetti, this is a real Italian tragedy!

 

and it's great!

Lucy.............Patrice Munsel

 


Edgar............Jan Peerce

Robert Merril, Ezio Pinza, Thelma Votipka

Renato Cellini conducting

I'm really enjoying opera on ancient vinyl (LP) because I'm hearing stuff I never dreamed of!
__________________
 
 

[woodsyi]

The Sweet Sound (Il dolce suono) of the Mad Scene.   

I actually like Maria Callas on this one.  I like her better as Floria but she makes Lucia work too even though she doesn't portray a fragile woman.  Perhaps that's why her mad scene is more powerful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Bm2lwnW-0&feature=related

When it comes to this scene, you have to give a nod to the one and only La Stupenda, Joan Sutherland.  Despite her diction issue, she had a lovely and carrying voice that just hit the right notes for this aria especially the early recordings like this one.
part 1
part 2

Recent Met production with Natalie Dessay is really good too.  Here is the video which adds the scene for those of you not familir with the scene.  Mad scene from Met with Dessay  She snapped and just killed her husband (arranged) on her wedding night.  She wonders out to the crowd not knowing what she has done and sings about being with her lover, who is a scion of her family's bitter rival and enemy. 

Here is also and interview with Natalie Dessay where she talks about both Sutherland and Callas and this aria.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1NVixB0Kvc&feature=related

Then, of course, there is this scene from the movie Fifth Element.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MR6D7tL38U&feature=related

[acidaho]

  OK......Natalie gets my vote!! Brava! Brava!