An all-star cast assembled for the Met’s first-ever performances of Rossini’s romantic retelling of Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem The Lady of the Lake. Joyce DiDonato is Elena, the title heroine, who is being pursued by not one, but two tenors—setting off sensational vocal fireworks. Juan Diego Flórez is King James V of Scotland, disguised as the humble Uberto, and John Osborn sings his political enemy, and rival in love, Rodrigo Di Dhu. Complicating matters is the fact that Elena herself loves Malcolm, a trouser role sung by mezzo-soprano Daniela Barcellona, and that she is the daughter of Duglas (Oren Gradus), another of the king’s political adversaries. Paul Curran’s atmospheric production is conducted by Michele Mariotti.
Acting
DiDonato's Elena: technically perfect, emotionally devastating.
Direction
Curran's misty Scottish atmosphere actually works.
Production
Met first-ever staging — they're not phoning it in.
Director
Paul Curran
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was the Metropolitan Opera's first-ever production of this opera, 196 years after its 1819 premiere. They waited for DiDonato.
Rossini's Elena is based on Scott's poem that also inspired 'The Lady of the Lake' — yes, the one with 'Hail to the Chief'. Same lake, different drama.
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