tempos in much of Lucia's material, and the soprano's voicing of the mad scene's central moment, "At last you hold me", is affectionately calm and sweet. Opie's Enrico is high-strung and edgy, impatient from the get-go as he jumps on entrances with a snarl. The baritone sounds appropriately duplicitous in his duet with Lucia, obsequious toward Arturo and dangerously volatile with Edgardo. Throughout Opie provides plenty of visceral excitement... Musically the performance is polished, especially in the details of phrasing and articulation in ensembles. The chorus sings beautifully, the all-important horns sound gorgeous.'

Opera News

'Futral's Lucia is earnest and earthy, not so much a victim as a woman who takes things into her own dagger-clutching hands... Futral can carry a line musically with great intelligence and allure and her voice rides over the ensembles with warmth and beauty..... It is a pleasure to hear new ornaments and unconventional

CHAN 3083
5 January 2009
Tragic drama in three acts
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
after Walter Scott's novel, The Bride of Lammermoor English translation by David Parry

The Cast

Elizabeth Futral, soprano - Lucia
Alan Opie, baritone - Enrico Ashton
Peter Wedd, tenor (PMF Scholar) -
Lord Arturo Bucklaw
Paul Charles Clarke, tenor - Edgardo
Peter Rose, bass - Raimondo Bidebent
Christine Rice, mezzo-soprano (PMF Scholar) - Alisa
Stephen Chaundy, tenor (PMF Scholar) - Normanno
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

Philharmonia Orchestra
David Parry - conductor

Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London
2-6 September 2001
Producer - Brian Couzens
Sound engineer - Ralph Couzens

Lucia of Lammermoor
Assistant engineers - Christopher Brooke & Michael Common