Anna Bolena

With her gripping portrayal of Anne Boleyn, soprano Sondra Radvanovsky launched her season-long quest to sing all three of Donizetti’s Tudor queen operas. She conquers the extraordinary musical and dramatic demands the composer makes, starring opposite an equally impressive Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII, Anne’s king and husband, whose need for a son leaves him prey to lies spread about Anne by her enemies—with tragic consequences. Stephen Costello is Lord Richard Percy, Anne’s former lover. Milijana Nikolic sings Jane Seymour, Anne’s lady-in-waiting who has caught the king’s eye. Tamara Mumford is Mark Smeaton, the queen’s page who is also in love with her. Marco Armiliato conducts.