Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor

– Love and betrayal on the Scottish highlands –

Toronto, Ontario – The Canadian Opera Company presents Donizetti’s bel canto masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor for a limited run at the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts. James Robinson, who directed The Journey to Rheims and Maurizio Barbacini, who conducted 1998’s Madama Butterfly, return to the COC with this powerful and haunting production. Lucia di Lammermoor runs September 25 at 7:30 p.m., 28 at 7:30 p.m., 30 at 7:30 p.m., October 3 at 2 p.m.,

6 at 7:30 p.m., and 8 at 7:30 p.m., 2004 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES^TM .

Based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor, the opera is a story of power, love and madness in the Scottish highlands. Young Lucia, deceived by her brother, betrays the man she loves and marries another. When confronted by her discarded lover, the expression of Lucia’s broken heart and now fractured mind results in one of the most famous and stunning mad scenes in all of opera. Soprano Marina Mescheriakova returns to the COC after her successes here in Luisa Miller, Madama Butterfly and Norma to make her role debut as the tragic heroine. Tenor Yasuharu Nakajima makes his COC debut as Lucia’s lover Edgardo and Canadian baritone Russell Braun, who received critical acclaim for his portrayal of the title role in 2001’s Billy Budd, stars as Enrico, Lucia’s vengeful brother. Turkish bass Burak Bilgili, who made his debut with the COC at the 2002 Altamira Summer Opera concerts, sings Raimondo, Lucia’s kindly tutor. COC Ensemble Studio members, soprano Joni Henson and tenor Luc Robert, sing Alisa, Lucia’s devoted companion and Arturo, Lucia’s intended groom, respectively. COC favourite, tenor John Kriter is Normanno.

Last performed by the COC in 1995, this production of Lucia di Lammermoor is a compelling psychological interpretation of Donizetti’s famous melodrama. Sets are designed by Christine Jones, who makes her COC debut, costumes are designed by Constance Hoffman, who worked with the COC last season for Rigoletto, and Scott Zielinski’s original lighting design is re-created by Aaron Black.

Lucia di Lammermoor premiered in Naples in 1835 to great public acclaim and its immense popularity has never waned. Regarded by many as the epitome of early 19th century romantic opera, Donizetti’s work foreshadows Verdian Italian opera with its striking contrasts in situation and melody. The opera’s impact extends even further into the world of romanticism, having inspired an episode between Emma Bovary and her lover in Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary.

Single tickets for Lucia di Lammermoor went on sale August 16, 2004 and may be purchased by calling 416-872-2262, online at www.coc.ca or in person at the Hummingbird Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket prices for all performances range from $40 to $175. Special young people’s tickets for all performances throughout the season are priced from $18 to $50. These ticket prices apply to those who are 17 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult. Starting September 18, 2004 at 10 a.m., $18 and $29 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 18 and 29 through the 18to29: Opera for a New Age program, presented by TD Bank Financial Group.

Subscriptions for the COC’s 2004/05 season may be purchased by calling 416-363-8231, toll-free at

1-800-250-4653, or in person at the COC Box Office, 227 Front St. East, Toronto. Patrons can also purchase subscriptions securely online at www.coc.ca. See the COC Web site for details.

Scenery and costumes for this production are owned by the Minnesota Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Colorado, Pittsburgh Opera and Houston Grand Opera and were constructed by the Minnesota Opera Shops.

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLESä : Sun Life Financial

BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats

The COC offers free 20-minute introductions to the opera and its theme at the Hummingbird Centre,

45 minutes prior to each performance.

The Canadian Opera Company Web site, at www.coc.ca, contains information and historical background on all productions including synopses, historical backgrounds and production photographs.