The presence of soprano Lisette Oropesa or tenor Juan Diego Flórez alone would have been enough to make this staging of Lucia di Lammermoor one of the opera year's marquee events—but with both of them combining their star power and talent, it's no wonder this hotly anticipated production has met with so many five-star reviews. Following lengthy delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Flórez and Oropesa together were "worth waiting three years for" (Financial Times), with Oropesa demonstrating "confident coloratura, silvery high notes, beautiful pianissimi, [and] perfect trills" in the title role and Flórez "confirm[ing] his status as the greatest bel canto tenor of his generation" (Bachtrack) as Lucia's true love Edgardo.
The deep vocal cast also features Boris Pinkhasovich as Enrico—Lucia's brother, whose venal machinations keep Lucia and Edgardo apart, driving toward the opera's tragic conclusion—and Michele Pertusi as chaplain Raimondo, with La Scala's world-famous orchestra and chorus under the expert direction of maestro Riccardo Chailly.
Photo © La Scala / Marco Brescia & Rudy Amisano
