Is it perhaps the result of strategic scheduling that OA's Lucia di Lammermoor opens next week, in the midst of the season of Don Giovanni? Those disgruntled by the new production — I understand there are a few — can nestle, placated, into John Copley's Lucia, which must surely be among the oldest productions still in repertory at Opera Australia. It's on DVD with Our Joan and that film is 22 years old.
Anyway, in accordance with its nice, cosy status, Lucia is getting nice, cosy publicity. So far just this friendly little piece. If I were in a nitpicking mood — and when am I not? — I might quibble with opening claim, that Lucia is "a role so challenging that few attempt it and even fewer succeed." That few completely succeed is no doubt true but a quick Operabase search would suggest that quite a number (at least forty-five in the last twelve months) do at least attempt it. Totally trivial point, however. And given that it's the Telegraph, if that's the extent of the article's utter crap quotient, we're doing remarkably well.
But Emma's happy, Richard's happy, I assume Adrian Collette is happy. All is well. Even I'm happy. To my surprise, I've ceased my predictions of doom and find my hopes for Emma's Lucia renewed. To be fair, my Emma experiences so far (good and not-so-good) do actually suggest she'll make quite a lovely Lucia. Lovely, I suspect, being the key word. Lovely isn't everything. I have better words for Natalie's Lucia. But lovely has its charm and no doubt so will Emma.
I anticipate disappointment with this production. I figure that if I take this line having been greatly disappointed the last time I saw Ms Matthews (Arabella)and left feeling quite neutral the time before (Lakme), then if by chance it is good and she does succeed, then it will be more than I had hoped for and therefore a terrific bonus and a great night. Having seen Sumi Jo the last time this was staged in Sydney I seriously doubt Ms Matthews will scale the Korean diva's heights, but you just never know!! I have great faith in Richard Bonyange though and if he is saying good things......who knows??
Posted by: David | Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 05:48 PM
You're right of course, expecting disappointment is a better strategy. It worked for me with (believe it or not) Rusalka. But Emma has such a following I thought I should try and have a bit more of a positive attitude. At least in Lucia, unlike Arabella, the orchestration is all geared towards showing off her voice, so she might not be as subsumed and hard to hear as she was, which was one the main problems with her Zdenka.
I seem to recall reading that Bonynge has to approve the soprano before he agrees to conduct Lucia anywhere. Not that Emma was in any danger, they've no doubt worked together before, probably multiple times.
Posted by: Sarah | Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 06:59 PM
You have convinced me Sarah, I will be positive and place all my faith in Maestro Bonynge and his stringent selection policy for selecting his Lucias and yes you are right, the orchestration will favour her!!
Posted by: David | Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Just don't blame me if it all falls apart!
(But the boys should be good no matter what.)
Posted by: Sarah | Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 07:34 PM