Our Opera Group met on Thursday 28 November 2024 for an entire performance of the opera by Gaetano Donizetti based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott.

The plot revolves around the control of a young couple by their two families, although this story is based in Scotland rather than Verona! As with Shakespeare’s tale, it does not end well! Our group leader took us through the plot essentials before we started the video of a performance from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

With a distinguished cast led by Joan Sutherland in the title role, and Pablo Elvira as Henry Ashton, Alfredo Kraus as Edgar Ravenswood, Jeffry Stamm as Arthur Bucklaw, Paul Plishka as Raymond Bidebent, Ariel Bybee as Alisa, John Gilmore as Normanno, and Richard Bonynge conducting the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House.

The performance received more than rapturous applause on the night, and we all came away with a new understanding of why Joan Sutherland attracted the soubriquet of “La stupenda”