Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (2CD)

Lucia di Lammermoor’s tragic tale of love, feuds, deception, madness and murder has thrilled audiences since its première in 1835. It boasts a fast-moving plot, a strong cast of characters, a brooding Scottish Gothic horror setting and some of Donizetti’s most effective and demanding music, making it the most celebrated bel canto opera in the repertoire. On this live recording from the Donizetti Theatre in Bergamo, Désirée Rancatore gives a fresh and thrilling interpretation of the demanding rôle of the doomed heroine Lucy Ashton, her famous ‘mad scene’ featuring a glass harmonica, Donizetti’s original choice of instrument, rather than the more usual flute, to underline the state of her shattered mind.