An Unforgettable Evening With Lucia Di Lammermoor At Ankara State Opera And Ballet – Review

The Ankara State Opera and Ballet delivered an impressive and unforgettable opera experience to art lovers with Gaetano Donizetti’s "Lucia di Lammermoor", one of the most distinguished and dramatic works in the bel canto repertoire. This timeless masterpiece transformed the stage into a storm of emotions through its intense narrative intertwining tragedy and passion.

The societal and familial pressures on Lucia begin to be felt in the first act, intensify in the second, and culminate in a devastating explosion in the protagonist's inner world in the third. Donizetti’s music conveys this psychological unraveling to the audience within an exquisitely refined dramatic structure.

The production's direction, by the Spanish director Carlos Vilan—known for his contemporary stage language—brought this powerful interpretation to life. Vilan masterfully blended classical Scottish dramaturgy with bel canto tradition, making the work's dramatic backbone visible through a simple yet impactful scenic language. A modern touch came from the costumes, inspired by the TV series *Outlander* to appeal to younger audiences.

The musical foundation of the evening was skillfully established by conductor Deniz Oliveira Erdinç. Erdinç handled Donizetti’s elegant orchestration in balanced harmony with the soloists, delicately supporting the work's emotional depth.

The onstage soloists enhanced the evening's impact with their strong and cohesive performances. In this performance, the principal roles were portrayed as follows:

- Lucia – Esra Çetiner
- Sir Edgardo – Emre Akkuş
- Lord Enrico Ashton – Kamil Kaplan
- Lord Arturo Bucklaw – Ali Can Akyıldız
- Raimondo Bidebent – Yiğitcan Tatlıoğlu
- Alisa – Evren Gökoğlu
- Normanno – Emre Yalçın
- Ghost – Zeynep Olcayto

The famous "mad scene" in the third act stood out as one of the evening's highlights, both for its dramatic intensity and technical difficulty. This section, depicting Lucia's mental breakdown, left a profound impression on the audience.

Contributions from set designer Çağda Çıtkaya, costume designer Sevcan Yenihayat Horozgil, and lighting designer Ali Gökdemir created a simple and functional visual atmosphere that kept the music in the foreground. The chorus, under Ivan Pekhov, added powerful collective expression to the dramatic structure.

With this high-quality production, the Ankara State Opera and Ballet not only paid homage to Donizetti but also gifted its audience an opera evening of exceptional artistic level—one that will linger in memories for a long time.

Selected Audience Comments

Comments shared on social media and in art circles immediately after the performance reflected the production's success:

- “Esra Çetiner’s performance in the mad scene was magnificent; it gave me goosebumps. She sang Donizetti’s challenging arias flawlessly.”

- “Carlos Vilan’s direction gave this classic work a modern breath. The costumes were fantastic—a perfect approach for younger audiences!”

- “Deniz Oliveira Erdinç’s orchestra conducting was balanced and rich in emotional depth. An unforgettable evening thanks to the soloists’ harmony.”

- “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such an impactful Lucia in Ankara. It created a true emotional storm!”

These comments highlight how the performance deeply affected the audience both technically and emotionally.