Lucia di Lammermoor

Grab your tissues for Donizetti’s most tragic opera, Lucia di Lammermoor. Based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel, this opera is full of beautiful music and unfathomable tragedy. The story follows Lucia (Irina Lungu) who has fallen in love with Edgardo (Piotr Beczala) who happens to be the mortal enemy of her brother Enrico (Massimo Cavalletti). At its core, this is the story of a woman who is controlled by the men in her life to the point of insanity. This opera is famous for the haunting Mad Scene in act III which features a unique instrument the glass harmonica and one of the highest notes a Soprano can sing, a high F. You may recognize the famous aria Il dolce suono, which was featured in the movie The Fifth Element. In addition to the haunting sounds of the glass harmonica, the scene is packed with intense emotion, jaw-dropping cadenzas sung by Lucia, and of course lots of blood. This production from Opera Zurich is unique in that it features a rotating set, young actors who portray the main characters in flashbacks, and even a minotaur. This is the epic opera we all know and love.