Virginia Zeani's Dramatic Lucia J Mad Scene 2 London 1957

Virginia Zeani stunned London's opera goers when she triumphed as Lucia in 1957. The opera had not been heard in England since 1925 and was considered nothing more than a frivolous, out of date curiosity. Toti dal Monte had been the last to sing the role in which she reputedly "fluttered a fan".

In 1957 the opera was presented in Oscar Hammersteins's vast Stoll Theatre by an ad hoc Italian Touring company. with rudimentary staging and simple, painted scenery. Yet, despite the lack of a sophisticated production, Virginia Zeani's brilliantly sung, dramatic Lucia captivated the audiences and changed people's attitudes to the opera. It even convinced a sceptical Covent Garden management to go ahead with their own elaborate production two years later.

Virginia Zeani's Lucia is a real flesh and blood character. Singing with vibrant, tone, she uses the music to convey the emotions of the deeply disturbed heroine and employs ornamentation for dramatic effect and never merely as empty display.

Zeani studied the role with the coloratura soprano Lydia Lipkowska, who taught her the traditional embellishments, handed down from Donizetti's early interpreters.
The orchestra is the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Vincenzo Bellezzza

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Virginia
• Zeani
• Italian
• Opera
• Donizetti
• Callas
• Sutherland
• Walter
• Scott

[corellithebest]

Thank you, dear Yvonne, for this immensely precious operatic jewel! Just a question: so this was not at Covent Garden, but at another London theatre, Stoll Theatre? And I like so much her photos here, do they represent her as Lucia? What an acting!

[CharlotteinWeimar]

@corellithebest The Stoll Theatre in London was built by Oscar Hammerstein as The London Opera House. It was superb,even larger than Covent Garden. Zeani sang there with a visiting 100% Italian touring company in a scratch production. She never sang Lucia at Covent Garden & only made her debut there as Violetta as a last minute replacement for Sutherland. Unfortunately they sang the same repertoire & Sutherland, being our home grown rising star was given precedence. But oh, how we needed both!

[GermanOperaSinger]

Dame Joan was a great singer, but Mme. Zeani lived the character. With Sutherland you hear a great sound, but Mme. Zeani's performance is ART. Just sensational.

[christineannemarsden]

In comparison with Joan's recordings of this , Zeani makes the emotions more real and the voice really rings! Thanks again Yvonne

[sttar1982]

che brava complimenti ottima tecnica:)

[violetavalery]

incredible!!

[MultiZahl]

Ein wundervoller dramatischer Koloratursopran-bravissima Virginia Zeani!!!

[Ariadne7710]

What a beautiful lovely silvery,voice but with lots of warmth. Great technique and a wonderful interpretation. I had only seen her name in passing in the past but since you recently started drawing everyone's attention to her I played a few of your posts and it was a relevation. A pity some of the big Opera Houses outside Italy didn't give her the recognition she deserved. And a great lady also. I heard her interview.

[hugothebear]

I try very hard not to live in the past but the moment I heard this I found myself wishing that "modern" ladies would put this level of musicianship, vocal focus and intensity into the music itself. I have no idea what Zeani did in the way of "acting" but everything is here in this wonderul clear focused open throated voice. What a treasure and what a shame that this singer was so overshadowed by her great contemporaries, surely this lady deserved equal recognition. She still stuns me !

[arturo8402]

I can't stop listening to this woman..I didnt think it got any better than Joan but this is definately of the same caliber if not more....and her legato and coloratura was intense and beautiful, and her Ebs were AMAZING!!!

[youfeda]

favolosa!

[bellini7verdi]

ni de cerca como callas ni sutherland

[corellithebest]

@dantitustimshu Absolutely agree! I enjoy so much Mme Zeani's rendition of Lucia! She, like Callas, has, after many years, restored genuine humanity to that character!