"Lucia di Lammermoor", Opera San José, January 1998

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I am delighted to be appearing in the chorus for "Lucia di Lammermoor" at Opera San José, from January 16th to February 1st, 1998. This page provides a little information for your enjoyment, and hopefully will entice you to come see the show (and me)!

About the Opera

As one of the warhorses of the repertoire, a lot has been written about "Lucia". I recommend the summary "Lucia" web page published by Opera Glass.

About this production

"Lucia di Lammermoor", by Gaetano Donizetti. See the production info from Opera San José. Presented at the Montgomery Theatre, San Carlos and Market Streets, in downtown San Jose, California. For more information, call the Box Office at +1-408-437-4450.

Reviews of this production

Here are links to some of the reviews of this production which I've found.


'LUCIA' MISSES ITS EMOTIONAL TARGET

[Published on 01/19/98, (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS , 629 words.) Complete Article is available from the News Library, but will cost you money.]

'LUCIA'' CAME to town, but left us dry-eyed.

The plight of a defenseless woman manipulated by a power-driven, sexist society lies at the heart of the opera-tragedy ''Lucia di Lammermoor.'' It has to hit you in the heart too, and in your tear ducts, as Lucia's decline and fall in make-believe Scotland is traced out. ...



Sorrowing in Tears
Opera San José goes mad for 'Lucia di Lammermoor'

[From the January 22-28, 1998 issue of Metro. Complete Article is available from the Metro archives. Copyright © Metro Publishing Inc. Maintained by Boulevards New Media.]

By Philip Collins

LOVE CAN MAKE you nuts, but life without it is no picnic, either. In Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, the title character succumbs to the pressures of both extremes in so preposterous and revolting a manner that the opera's renown centers as much upon Lucia's "mad scene" as it does on the memorable tunes the composer showers upon us.

Opera San José's production of Donizetti's most popular tragedy provides aspects of this work's virtues--primarily some first-rate singing with glowing support from the orchestra--amid lamentable dramatic conditions of a petrified sort. In terms of staging and design, this revival of Lucia di Lammermoor is at best competent and decidedly routine--more like a song recital with sets than a dramatic event. ...



Donizetti's Bicentennial Celebrated with Lucia di Lammermoor

[From the web site of San Jose Living. Complete article is available.]

byKelly Snyder

... Opera San José's physical production ... was not up to the company's current standards. In particular, the setting for the great hall of the castle in Act II creates a staging nightmare by consuming most of the already limited stage space, forcing the chorus to squeeze together and crowd in from the wings and leaving precious little space for the principals. The costumes, coordinated by Sherrol Simard, were undistinguished as a whole although the wedding celebration scene provided some suggestion of opulence. Sara Beukers deserves special recognition for the excellent series of wigs gathered and styled for this Cavalier period production....

Hampered by an unimaginative set and minimal stage space, stage director Daniel Helfgot concentrated on the principals and brought out some convincing performances. But the chorus was left standing around with little to do for much of the time. In a staging that forces them downstage most of the time, this quickly became obvious. ....



But wait, there's more!

Check back here to see if any backstage snapshots appear!


Last updated 1/26/98. Maintained by Jim DeLaHunt.
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