Contrary to expectation, Lyric Opera's presentation of Donizetti's opera at the NCH on Saturday was a semi-staged affair. The Orchestra of St Cecilia sat in front of the platform, the Cantabile Singers sang from scores at the back and the costumed principals acted out their roles on a dais. Conductor Fergus Sheil balanced the sound splendidly, drawing full-bodied tone from his 30 players.
Nicola Sharkey'e Lucia was of the fey rather than the fighting kind. Her silvery soprano soared ethereally in the mad scene, done with some interestingly unusual decorations, and her mid range was warm and dramatically telling. Lack of weight at the top told against her in the rumbustious strettas and short-changed her climaxes. Nevertheless, this was a performance of distinction. As her lover Edgardo, Gordon Wilson matched his partner's smooth line in their duet Verranno a te.
Julian Saipe's vibrant bass was impressive as the chaplain Raimondo, but Jeffrey Carl's hectoring baritone as Lucia's villainous brother was out of period style. The smaller roles were well sung by mezzo Linda Gryffudd and the tenors Anthony Norton and Matthew Gilsenen.