Lucia di Lammermoor March 19
Met Live in HD at the Clark Art Institute
By: Clark - Mar 10, 2011
Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor Comes to the Clark Live from the Met
Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic masterpiece, Lucia di Lammermoor, comes to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute on Saturday, March 19 at 1 pm, live from the Metropolitan Opera as part of the Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning series The Met: Live in HD. After triumphing as Lucia in Mary Zimmerman’s critically acclaimed production in 2007, French soprano Natalie Dessay returns to the role of the innocent young woman driven to madness, opposite Joseph Calleja, who sings her lover Edgardo.
In a feud between two Scottish families, Enrico of Lammermoor has gained the upper hand over Edgardo Ravenswood, killing his kinsmen and taking over his estates. When Enrico's fortunes wane and he falls into political disfavor, he stakes everything on uniting his family with that of Lord Arturo, whom he means to force his sister, Lucia, to marry. When Enrico discovers that his sister and Edgardo have formed a romantic attachment, he schemes to break them apart, ultimately driving his sister to murder and madness.
In Mary Zimmerman’s acclaimed 2007 production, Natalie Dessay earned rave reviews that praised her dramatic commitment as well as her vocal performance in the demanding role of Lucia. In this electrifying revival, the Associated Press has called her performance “a lesson in the art of a superb singing actress.” Dessay is joined by Joseph Calleja, who was “sensationally ardent as Lucia’s lover, Edgardo” (The New York Times). French baritone Ludovic Tézier appears as Enrico, the villainous brother who forces Lucia into an arranged marriage for his own financial gain, and Korean bass Kwangchul Youn is the chaplain Raimondo. Lucia di Lammermoor is conducted by Patrick Summers, who led the Live in HD transmission of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride in February. Renée Fleming, who stars in the Live in HD transmission of Capriccio on April 23, is the HD host for Lucia di Lammermoor and will interview the opera’s stars.
The Met: Live in HD series continues with Le Comte Ory (April 9), Capriccio (April 23), Il Trovatore (April 30), and Die Walküre (May 14). The Clark’s soaring acoustics and intimate auditorium offers one of the best performance venues in the region; wine and assorted beverages will be available for purchase during intermission. Tickets are on sale now for $25 ($18 for students). For tickets, call 413 458 0MET (458 0638) or visit clarkart.edu
The Clark
Set amidst 140 acres in the Berkshires, the Clark is one of the few major art museums that also serves as a leading international center for research and scholarship. The Clark presents public and education programs and organizes groundbreaking exhibitions that advance new scholarship. The Clark’s research and academic programs include an international fellowship program and conferences. Together with Williams College, the Clark sponsors one of the nation’s leading master’s programs in art history.
The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm (daily in July and August). Admission is $15 June 1 through October 31. Admission is free for children 18 and younger, members, and students with valid ID. Admission is free November through May. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit clarkart.edu.
Calendar Listing
March 19: Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic masterpiece, Lucia di Lammermoor, comes to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute on Saturday, March 19 at 1 pm, live from the Metropolitan Opera as part of the Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning series The Met: Live in HD. After triumphing as Lucia in Mary Zimmerman’s critically acclaimed production in 2007, French soprano Natalie Dessay returns to the role of the innocent young woman driven to madness, opposite Joseph Calleja, who sings her lover Edgardo. The Clark’s soaring acoustics and intimate auditorium offers one of the best performance venues in the region; wine and assorted beverages will be available for purchase during intermission. Tickets are on sale now for $25 ($18 for students). For tickets, call 413 458 0MET (458 0638) or visit clarkart.edu. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 413 458 2303, clarkart.edu.