Lucia di Lammermoor

In February 1986, a veritable love fest took place in Sydney, Australia when Dame Joan Sutherland appeared to ecstatic applause in a reprise of her signature role as Lucia di Lammermoor. Backed by the Australian Opera Chorus, the Australian Opera Ballet, and the Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra under conductor Richard Bonynge, this legendary production—filmed live at Sydney Opera as an “Esso Night at the Opera”—has now been restored and re-released on DVD. Donizetti's opera, based on Sir Walter Scott's novel concerning star-crossed lovers of the Ravenswood and Lammermoor families, historically presented insurmountable challenges to most sopranos until 1959, when Sutherland made a breakthrough with her bel canto triumph (featuring a definitive performance of the mad scene that defines the opera). In 1986, a late date in her career, she still merits the epithet “La Stupenda,” with her formidable technique and presence (not to mention her ability to fall over backwards on a flight of stairs). Presented in Dolby Digital stereo, the sound is uneven during some of the ensemble pieces and at times the orchestra overwhelms the supporting singers, but this is living history, and despite technical imperfections is still highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Reed)