Having presented Bellini’s “I Capuleti e i Montecchi” in Pittsburgh, do you foresee further exploration of the bel canto repertory there?
AW: We are doing Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” next season with Laura Claycomb in the title role. Christopher Hahn (the Pittsburgh Opera General Director) makes the final decisions. We have discussed the possibility of other bel canto repertory, although so far there is nothing concrete that we have planned. Wm: “Lucia” is certainly an opera that can be made theatrically interesting in the hands of a good director. AW: Without a doubt. At English National Opera in London, I was conductor for David Alden’s production – a very dark, very violent production. Lucia was under the thumb of all the men and Edgardo was also an abuser. It was an interesting production with Anna Christy a very fine, youthful, and very strong Lucia. She stood up to all these male figures, but in the end it proved to be too much for her. Wm: Since 2008 you have had new guest conducting assignments at Opera Theater of Saint Louis, Vancouver Opera, Canadian Opera Company in Toronto and Santa Fe Opera, and you al
