Elena Xanthoudakis is playing 'Lucia di Lammermoor' in the revival of Gaetano Donizetti's romantic tragedy from Melbourne Opera. The Greek-Australian soprano talks to SBS Greek

Award-winning Greek-Australian soprano Elena Xanthoudakis extends her bel canto repertoire by taking on the starring role in Lucia di Lammermoor, directed by one of Australia’s most accomplished opera directors Suzanne Chaundy.

Gaetano Donizetti's play is set on the stormy hills of Scotland, this opera, first performed in 1835, is based on Sir Walter Scott’s gothic romance 'The Bride of Lammermoor'.

'Belcanto is a style of romantic music which is such a challenge to sing long lines and ornamentation, it's very emotional', Ms Xanthoudakis tells SBS Greek.

'This music is so dramatic and emotional, the journey that goes on with the ups and the downs, it's just so intense, it's also really a joy on that side of play.'

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'Lucia di Lammermoor is about many modern women': Elena Xanthoudakis in Melbourne Opera's iconic tragedy

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'Lucia di Lammermoor is about many modern women': Elena Xanthoudakis in Melbourne Opera's iconic tragedy production

The story is about the love affair of Lucia Ashton and her family rival, Edgardo of Ravenswood.

The two noble families, the Ashtons and Ravenswoods, are bitter enemies.

The Ashtons are almost broke and therefore Enrico Ashton, brother of Lucia, has arranged her marriage to the wealthy Lord Arturo Bucklaw, in the hope that this union will alleviate their money troubles and save the Ashton family.

Caught in this feud, and cornered by the men around her, Lucia is driven to madness with the direst consequences for all.

'Lucia di Lammermoor is about many modern women': Elena Xanthoudakis in Melbourne Opera's iconic tragedy production at the Athenaeum Theatre

'Lucia has no control over her life, she can only do what angles she was given to work within and the constriction of that is soul-crushing for Lucia; it breaks her', the Greek-Australian soprano tells us.

'In terms of domestic violence, that's an area that I have very strong feelings about. And this opera itself tackles some of that', she adds.

'Opera is an incredibly competitive field; you have to be ruthlessly independent to make it in this industry.

'There is a lot of patriarchy in opera, there are a lot of expectations to be a certain way, for instance, to dress a certain way.

I feel like in Australia there is a little bit of breaking down of that which I think is great, but in general it's still a very old-fashioned world.'

Elena Xanthoudakis

Ms Xanthoudakis is half-Greek with family ties with the Greek island of Crete.

'The Greek affinity with music is powerful, we have that inside us and, in terms of the arts as drama, we're very much attuned to this in our nature', she tells SBS Greek and she sings

Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis and living legend Nana Mouschouri's Pame Mia Volta Sto Feggari'.

This was the first ever song she heard!

Commending whether opera is difficult for the masses, she believes that people over-complicate going to the opera.

'If you know the synopsis, you will be carried along with the emotion of the music.

'As long as you know the structure of the story, there is absolutely no problem for someone following along with the motion of the drama', she says.

Elena Xanthoudakis at SBS Melbourne studios / SBS Greek / Panos Apostolou

She would highly recommend classical music to all.

'The experience of performing classical music is a heightened way of experiencing the world, it heightens your experience of life and we could be doing more of that than less.

'I would highly recommend classical music even if you don't pursue it as a career, just for your enjoyment in the beauty of life.'

Elena Xanthoudakis says she is a little too interested in what's happening in the world.

'I try and keep up with many different countries; Australia, the UK, America, Europe and I'm very much involved and we all need to pay attention.

People need freedom, people need respect, and there's a real need for awareness of this globally.'

For the sacrifices on a personal level that she did so far, she has no second thoughts about them.

'It is a choice people make between having children or not having children. Travel can be exhausting but I do love to travel, and I do love experiencing new food new places, and meeting new people, that's in my nature.

'But for the career, particularly at the start, there's a lot of dedication to do all the competitions I could get.'

Some of Melbourne’s most loved opera singers join Ms Xanthoudakis in this 1850s set production.

Acclaimed baritone Simon Meadows (Alberich in MO’s Ring Cycle) takes on the role of Lucia’s brother Enrico, while Henry Choo (Leicester in Maria Stuarda) plays her star-crossed lover Edgardo.

One of Australia’s great bass singers Eddie Muliaumaseali’i (Wotan in MO’s Das Rheingold) performs the role of family Chaplain Raimondo, with the divinely talented mezzo-soprano Sarah

Sweeting (Fricka in MO’s Ring Cycle) takes to the stage as Lucia’s household companion Alisa.

Lucia’s betrothed Arturo is performed by Robert Macfarlane, with Boyd Owen as Normanno.

A string of virtuoso arias and duets and the famous ‘mad scene’ Il dolce suono are just some of the highlights of this great work.

The Melbourne Opera Chorus and Orchestra are conducted by bel canto specialist Raymond Lawrence and Melbourne Opera founding patron, producer and resident conductor Greg Hocking AM, conducting his first fully staged production since suffering from a stroke in late 2022.

There will be four performances for Lucia di Lammermoor: on Wednesday 8 May (7:30pm), on Tuesday 14 May (7:30pm), on Thursday 16 May (7:30pm) and Saturday 18 May (2.30pm).

The shows will be presented at the Athenaeum Theatre (188 Collins St Melbourne).

Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre