Virginia Zeani's Dramatic Lucia F 1957 London

Act 2 The wedding. Virginia Zeani sang Lucia in London in 1957. The opera had not been heard in England since 1925 and was considered nothing more than a frivolous, out of date curiosity. Toti del Monte had been the last to sing the role and hers was reputedly a light weight interpretation in which she "fluttered a fan".

In 1957 opera was presented in Oscar Hammersteins's vast Stoll Theatre by an ad hoc Italian Touring company, in a rudimentary staging with simple, painted scenery. Yet, despite the very modest production, Virginia Zeani's brilliantly sung, dramatically compelling Lucia completely changed people's attitudes to the opera, even convincing a sceptical Covent Garden management to go ahead with their own production two years later.

Virginia Zeani 's Lucia is a real flesh and blood character. Singing with vibrant, luminous tone, she uses the music to convey the emotions of the deeply disturbed heroine, employing ornamentation for dramatic effect and never merely for empty display. Zeani studied the role with the coloratura soprano Lydia Lipkowska, who taught her the traditional embellishments, handed down from Donizetti's early interpreters.

In the Castle of Lammermoor the wedding festivities are underway to a chorus of general rejoicing. But Lucia is distraught at the very sight of her bridegroom. She nevertheless goes ahead with the ceremony and with great reluctance signs the marriage contract. At that very moment Edgardo bursts in.

Disclaimer- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use. If for any reason, you deem that a video appearing in this channel violates copyright, please inform us immediately before you submit a claim to YouTube and we will take care to remove it

NB The recordings of Mme Virginia Zeani are mostly from radio broadcasts or private or in-house tapes. They were saved by her fans and later, without her permission, sometimes transferred to CDs by companies who pay her no royalties. They are now posted on YouTube so that new opera lovers can freely experience and enjoy her remarkable performances.

Видео Virginia Zeani's Dramatic Lucia F 1957 London канала CharlotteinWeimar