It’s the classic story of love and hate, and the beautifully tragic opera Lucia Di Lammermoor will soon be wowing Victoria audiences. The opera, based on a book by Sir Walter Scott, is a familiar story of heartbreak and tragedy.
“A young woman falls in love with a young man who is the enemy of her family,” says director Glynis Leyshon. “Her brother and [her lover] are at political odds and they’re separated, much like Romeo and Juliet. In essence it’s very much like Romeo and Juliet, the idea of innocence destroyed by the warring fanaticism of two opposing political points of view.”
Leyshon, who has directed plays and operas all across Canada and the United States, knows this story well, as it’s not her first time directing it. She’s excited to return and give it a fresh spin.
“It was one of the very first operas I did for Pacific Opera, so now, some 20 years later, I’m delighted to re-enter it and work with new colleagues on it,” says Leyshon. “I have chosen to revisit it in an entirely different way. We wanted to make the set minimalist, strong, extracted, rather than any kind of naturalism, so it has a much more abstracted and metaphorical impulse than the first production.”
Leyshon can’t say enough about how lucky she is to have such fantastic performers.
“They’re all wonderful as well as superb singers and superb actors,” she says. “We’ve really enjoyed a very theatre-style rehearsal period where we’ve invested a lot of time, energy, and discussion into details and specific moments between them as characters and their psychological relationship.”
Ernesto Ramirez, the actor playing the male lead, says that the opera company and the whole cast has treated him very well, and he’s really happy to be back performing in Victoria for the second time. He says that although he doesn’t have as much anger as his character, he still relates to him on many levels.
“I relate to him a lot in terms of his personality. He’s very driven. He’s determined to get what he wants. I think that’s something that I as an artist have; I’m very determined to accomplish my own goals,” says Ramirez.
Ramirez, an opera fan who has seen more than 70 operas, says the music in Lucia Di Lammermoor is “breathtaking.”
“Every time I’m singing the music it just makes me fall in love more and more and more,” says Ramirez. “This opera is the most complete I’ve seen, in the sense of technique and how it’s written for the character and brings the emotions to it.”
Meanwhile, Leyshon says the show promises to be an exciting piece for everyone. Everyone who loves opera and loves singing will respond to this show, she says.
“But this is also a terrific intro piece for people who may not be very familiar with opera. It’s a strong story and the music is very engaging and grabs you, so, for such a sad opera, it’s a terrific date opera,” says Leyshon. “It’s something that young people may be drawn to, especially as we realize today the awful, awful cost on humanity that warring factions can cause, and it will have a potent sense of reality for our younger audiences.”
Lucia Di Lammermoor
8 pm February 12, 14, 18, 20; 2:30 pm February 22
$25-$135, Royal Theatre
rmts.bc.ca