Elizabeth Futral On Fire: Lucia Sung In English
Rudy Avila | Lennox, Ca United States | 02/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If anything, the Opera In English series ease a layman and newbie to the world of opera. If you want to get into opera, start with English-sung translations. Others in the series include Verdi's La Traviata, Bizet's Carmen, Handel's Julius Caesar and Wagner's Ring Of The Nibelung. This recording features the talented soprano Elizabeth Futral, who is still actively performing in opera houses and recitals worldwide. Mind you, Elizabeth Futral has sung the Donizetti Italian version of Lucia Di Lammermoor. But for some reason, she provided her unique talents in singing English to this recording. We are glad she did for she delivers an incredible performance- intensely dramatic, vulnerable and melancholy and her Mad Scene is sensational. Her full lyric voice is beautiful to hear and she commands coloratura with ease and annoted perfection. On the plus side, in English, she is able to act as if she were in a film or in a stage play. This is Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor, considered his greatest opera. Lucia is drawn from the Sir Walter Scott Gothic novel, "The Bride Of Lammermoor" and supposedly inspired by an actual 19th century account. Set in the bleak moors of Scotland, Lucia Ashton is in love with Edgardo Ravenswood, but a la Romeo and Juliet, their love is forbidden since their families have been feuding for years over property and land ownership. Edgardo is the last of the Ravenswoods, all his family is resting in the ancestor's cemetery. Part of the conflict is that the Ravenswoods and the Ashtons are of opposing religions- Catholic and Protestant. Lucia's brother Enrico devises a plan to thwart their love. While Edgardo is off fighting a war in France, Enrico forges his letters and convinces Lucia that he is betraying her. Lucia is forced into a marriage of convenience with Arthur Bucklaw. However, Edgardo arrives only to see Lucia marry Arthur (The Sextet) He is enraged and heartbroken at once while Lucia's sanity is shattered. Not herself, she murders her husband on her wedding night (The Mad Scene). In the conclusion, Edgardo takes his own life when he hears that Lucia has died and that she had really loved him after all.While the opera is always better in its original Italian, this version is nothing to laugh at. It's beautifully done. Elizabeth Futral performs a sensational Lucia. If you get the chance to see Futral performing, please do so, you won't regret it. I will be seeing Elizabeth Futral performing recital arias asCleopatra in Handel's Julius Casear this late February."
Futral does it again!
Rudy Avila | 12/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After hearing Lucia in person, it has been a very interesting to hear this opera in English. The performers do a excellent job, their diction is perfect. Of course Ms. Futral is outstanding and the absolute choice to play the role of Lucia.Bravo!!"
