On Saturday, March 8th at 7:30pm, Southern Ontario Lyric Opera will present Donizetti’s tragic love story, Lucia di Lammermoor. Tenor Joel Ricci stars as Edgardo and rising Canadian soprano, Holly Chaplin makes her SOLO debut in the title role. In the tour de force role of Enrico, Canadian Baritone James Westman makes his return to Southern Ontario Lyric Opera in one of his defining roles. Company favourite Michael Robert-Broder appears as Raimondo. Rounding out the cast are Alexander Cappellazzo and Stephanie Yelovich, both making their company debuts. Gregory Finney returns to direct and Sabatino Vacca conducts. 

Maestro Vacca explains what makes Donizetti such a prolific composer: “Plenty of great moments. Pinnacle of Bel Canto era. Donizetti had a real gift for melody. He beautifully weaves the story with music that supports the text.”

The tragic love story of Lucia di Lammermoor follows Lucia and Edgardo, members of opposing houses in Scotland who are carrying on a secret affair. Enrico, Lucia’s brother, forces Lucia to marry another nobleman, Arturo, lying to her, saying that Edgardo has betrayed her and married someone else. One night only at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Tickets available at burlingtonpac.ca. There will be a pre-performance chat given by Dawn Martens from Opera Canada in the lobby at 6:45pm.

When speaking with director Gregory Finney he explains what he enjoys so much about Donizetti’s masterpiece: "I love the setting in Scotland. As a Cape Breton Islander born-and-raised anything Celtic tends to resonate quite strongly with me. It's also a real treat watching how people from other cultures - like Donizetti - present Scottish culture and heritage. I also enjoy when these two things are very incongruent. I think Donizetti is probably considered the height of Bel Canto before Verdi due to how well he just writes for the voice. He understands the language and how it moves in the mouth, so while the music is very challenging, in the hands of the right singers, which we have, it seems easy as pie and as natural as anything.”

What makes Lucia such a great opera for first timers? “The story is not complicated, very easy on the ears with it's abundance of great tunes for the soloists, great Choruses, emotions that are easy to understand and relatable.”-Sabatino Vacca

For more information on other concerts, including fundraisers, please visit: southernontariolyricopera.com.