Artist of the Week: Raffaella Lupinacci

Italian Mezzo Highlights ‘Anna Bolena’ Production in Dutch National Opera Debut

By Francisco Salazar

This week, the Dutch National Opera will present a new production of “Anna Bolena” with a stellar cast headlined by rising star, Raffaella Lupinacci in her house debut.

The Italian Mezzo-soprano will bring her acclaimed Giovanna Seymour to the Dutch house. The mezzo has performed the role at the Teatro Carlo Felice and Lithuanian Opera where critics have raved stating, “Her voice, vivid and powerful, brings all the qualities of a good mezzo-soprano.”

Lupinacci herself says that the character is full of “contradictions” and while she feels “remorse for Anna,” Giovanna wants to be “queen and have power.”

And she will continue to explore the character not only in Amsterdam but also in a new production of “Bastarda” at La Monnaie during the 2022-23 season, which will explore the entire Donizetti trilogy including “Il Castello di Kenilworth.”

Over the past years, Lupinacci has become one of the most sought-after mezzo-sopranos in the bel canto repertoire performing such roles as Adalgisa in Bellini’s “Norma,” Romeo in Vaccai’s “Giulietta e Romeo,” and Rosina in Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” Giovanna is her third Donizetti role following “La Favorite” and Arturo in “Rosmunda d’Inghilterra.” Next season she adds Rossini’s Desdemona to her repertoire and also reprises her Romeo in “I Capuleti e Montecchi.”

Recordings 

For those not familiar with the mezzo’s voice there are a couple of recordings that feature her work including Vaccai’s “Giulietta e Romeo” and Donizetti’s “Rosmonda d’Inghilterra” for Dynamic, and “Aureliano in Palmira.”

Here she is performing from “La Favorite,” “Anna Bolena,” and “Norma.”

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