Caterina Sala (Lucie), Patrick Kabongo (Edgard), Vito Priante (Henri), Roberto Lorenzi (Raimond), Julien Henric (Arturo), David Astorga (Gilbert)

Gli Originali, Coro dell’accademia Teatro alla Scala, Pierre Dumoussaud, Jacopo Spirei

In 1835 Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor made its triumphant debut at the San Carlo in Naples. For its Parisian appearance four years later as Lucie de Lammermoor, the composer went much further than merely Gallicising the heroine’s first name, he subjected the opera to a condensation in which Lucie became the only woman in the entire cast. Donizetti’s orchestration remains largely the same but the French influence is audible in new recitatives. This later version is no surrogate or mere abridgement, but, perhaps because of its greater concision, is more brutal and emotional than the original.

‘[Caterina Sala] genuinely lived the role through the text, her musicality is instinctive, and she’s an engaging actress… [Vito Priante’s] performance was overall enjoyable… Roberto Lorenzi made an impression as Raimond with a powerful, well-set bass.’ – Bachtrack

‘Pierre Dumoussaud's reading is adherent to the original score, here even more emphasised by the presence of the Orchestra Gli Originali and allows the audience to hear sounds cleansed of tradition. The Coro dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala conducted by Salvo Sgrò was excellent.’ – OperaeOpera.com