Gaetano Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia
La Monnaie, Brussels
La Monnaie Orchestra and Chorus
Julian Reynolds, conductor
Elena Mosuc (Lucrezia Borgia); Charles Castronovo (Gennaro); Silvia Tro Santafé (Maffio Orsini); Paul Gay (Duke of Ferrara); Roberto Covatta (Jeppo Liverotto); Tijl Faveyts (Don Apostolo Gazella); Jean-Luc Ballestra (Ascanio Petrucci); Stefan Cifolelli (Oloferno Vitellozzo); Carlo Bosi (Rustighello); Jean Teitgen (Gubetta); Justin Hopkins (Astolfo)
The historical Lucrezia Borgia may actually have been a fine, upstanding citizen. But her popular reputation isn't so sunny, and it's her legacy as a notorious poisoner that Donizetti exploits in an opera featuring a title role that's both brilliant, and daunting.