Seattle Opera Closes LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR 10/30

Seattle Opera opens its production of Donizetti's thrilling tragic melodrama Lucia di Lammermoor on October 16, 2010. The production will run for eight performances through October 30.

Lucia di Lammermoor-Donizetti's most popular work-tells the story of a woman driven to insanity and murder, and features opera's most famous "mad scene." Clandestine romance, feuding families, and political intrigue inspire unforgettable melodies and bravura singing, making this opera one of the most frequently performed bel canto tragedies.

Opening night will feature Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak in her Seattle Opera debut and role debut as Lucia. Called "a superstar in the making" by The Guardian, Kurzak made her La Scala debut earlier this year, and has made several appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, most recently as Gilda in the 2009 production of Verdi's Rigoletto. American tenor William Burden, last seen in Seattle this past May creating the role of Dodge in Hagen's Amelia, returns as Edgardo. Also making Seattle Opera debuts on opening night are Croatian baritone Ljubomir Puškari? as Enrico, Lucia's brother, and conductor Bruno Cinquegrani. Cinquegrani, who opened the season conducting the Orchestra of the Teatro San Carlo in his home town of Naples, Italy, is a Donizetti specialist who recently conducted the world premiere of the revised version of Marino Faliero for the Donizetti Foundation in Bergamo.

The Sunday/Friday cast features yet another new voice to Seattle with soprano Davinia Rodríguez, a native of the Canary Islands, in the role of Lucia. American tenor Scott Piper, last seen at Seattle Opera as Rodolfo in Puccini's Bohème, appears as Edgardo, and baritone Philip Cutlip, who sang Marcello in the same production of La bohème, takes on the role of Enrico. Both casts feature American bass Arthur Woodley as Raimondo, as well as the mainstage debuts of three of Seattle Opera's talented Young Artists: mezzo-soprano Lindsey Anderson as Alisa, tenor Eric Neuville as Normanno, and tenor Andrew Stenson as Arturo.

Lucia di Lammermoor is staged by Israeli native Tomer Zvulun, who was previously a Seattle Opera associate director (the Ring, 2009) and assistant director with the company in 2006 and 2007. Zvulun makes his directorial debut with the company; he is currently in his fourth season on the directing staff of the Metropolitan Opera, and has also directed for Dallas Opera, Atlanta Opera, and several other companies. In May, Zvulun directed Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera Cleveland. Seattle Opera's Lucia production features sets by Robert A. Dahlstrom, adapted from the company's 2008 production of I puritani. In the September/October 2008 review of I puritani, Opera Now said the design's "vertical maze of walkways and staircases suggested a Piranesi-like prison of the mind." Seattle native Deborah Trout designs the luxurious costumes, which set the opera in the period of its composition (mid-nineteenth century).

Lucia di Lammermoor runs from Saturday, October 16 to Saturday, October 30. Single tickets start at $25 and are available online at seattleopera.org, by calling 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or by mobile phone at mobile.seattleopera.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Box Office by visiting 1020 John Street (two blocks west of Fairview), Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Please note the following artists list for Lucia di Lammermoor replaces all previously announced cast lists. Further information on the 2010/11 season and full biographies of the cast members can be found at seattleopera.org.

Lucia di Lammermoor
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
In Italian with English Captions

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, Washington
8 Performances: October 16, 17m, 20, 23, 24m, 27, 29, 30, 2010.
Approximate Running Time: 3 hours, including two intermissions
Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; matinees begin at 2:00 p.m.
Single ticket prices start at $25
Seattle Opera Ticket Office: 206.389.7676/800.426.1619
Online orders: www.seattleopera.org

Premiere: Teatro San Carlo, September 26, 1835
Previous Seattle Opera Presentations: 1964, 1972, 1979, 1985, 1992, 2000

Artists

Lucia: Aleksandra Kurzak†/Davinia Rodríguez†*
Edgardo: William Burden/Scott Piper*
Enrico: Ljubomir Puškari?/Philip Cutlip*
Alisa: Lindsey Anderson†
Normanno: Eric Neuville†
Arturo: Andrew Stenson†
Raimondo: Arthur Woodley

Conductor: Bruno Cinquegrani†
Stage Director: Tomer Zvulun†
Set Designer: Robert A. Dahlstrom
Costume Designer: Deborah Trout
Lighting Designer: Robert Wierzel
Hair and Makeup Designer: Joyce Degenfelder
Choreographer: Rosa Mercedes†
English Captions: Jonathan Dean

Sets and Costumes: Seattle Opera

†Company debut
* On October 17, 24, and 29 only
Lindsey Anderson, Eric Neuville, and Andrew Stenson are current Seattle Opera Young Artists.
Production Sponsor: ArtsFund
Individual support provided by: An Anonymous Donor

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