Palermo, great success at the Teatro Massimo for “Lucia di Lammermoor”

PALERMO – Six calls in the proscenium for the debut of «Lucia di Lammermoor», at the reopening of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, a great emotion that runs between the stage and the boxes. Very few armchairs, public even in the gallery. A success due above all to the direction of Donizetti’s opera in full version by Roberto Abbado, a direction that generated enthusiasm, precise, respectful of the singers, obtaining from the orchestra a clear, full-bodied sound with an overwhelming rhythm. Excellent performance for the choir directed by Ciro Visco, which culminates in the concertato that closes the second act, after the magnificent textbook sextet. The work is presented in a semi-scenic form and will now remain visible on the theater website. The absence of a direction and the simplicity of the mise en espace curated by Ludovico Rajata do not detract from the beauty of Donizetti’s masterpiece, on the contrary they leave the role of absolute protagonist to the music, and this pleases the public.

Lucia has the voice of Sara Blanch, who is indisposed to the dress rehearsal, last night he gave a performance of great value, with wonderful nuances in «Alfin sei mio», sandwiched between the sweetness of the harp and the glass harmonica, played by Sacha Reckert, which underlines the scene of madness. Good supporting actors, from Ernesto Petti to the tenor Celso Albelo, more at ease in the grand finale. Big applause for Michele Pertusi’s Raimondo and David Astorga’s Arturo. Roberto Abbado stays in the city, this morning he met the Youth Orchestra of the theater, and on May 30 he will conduct Berlioz, the «Trista», and Musorgskij, «Pictures from an exhibition» and the «Songs and dances of death».