“As Claycomb warmed up, her performance improved, and no one could fault the brilliance of her rendition of the regimental song in Act I or the music-lesson scene in Act II, despite the distracting stage business that went on around her (much of it featuring silent comic servants). Claycomb, an acclaimed Lucia at HGO in 2003, seemed much more in her element during Marie’s more Lucia-like moments: her distress at parting from Tonio in “Il faut partir” was palpable, and the aria cascaded from her with great beauty and pathos in a way that had not yet been heard that evening. Similarly, her Act II “Par le rang et par l’opulence” was heartfelt and gorgeous.”

WALTER B. BAILEY

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