Andrea Bernard's 'Lucrezia Borgia' at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari Divides Audiences

Andrea Bernard has shifted the setting of Gaetano Donizetti's 'Lucrezia Borgia' to post-World War II Italy during the papacy of Pius XII at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, igniting controversy. This production, which previously faced disapproval at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, employs a cinematic montage akin to Elio Petri's 'Todo modo,' offering a critique of clerical authority. Bernard highlights Lucrezia's tragic motherhood through symbols of a cradle and shroud, while the concluding scene draws inspiration from Giovanni Bellini's 'Dead Christ.' Jessica Pratt's portrayal of Lucrezia garnered acclaim in Cagliari, where the performance was sold out. The production invites viewers to confront moral complexities without clear answers. The libretto, penned by Felice Romani, is adapted from a play by Victor Hugo.