Soprano became something of a sensation when, in the 2015-2016 season, she became the first to perform the lead in all three of 's "Tudor Queen" operas ( , , and , as Elisabeth I) at the . Already established internationally for her performances of bel canto opera, was approached by the conductor and music director of the Donizetti Festival in Bergamo, , about this project, and she leaped at the opportunity. Taking the final scenes from 's operas and presenting them in a semi-staged concert presents a considerable challenge to , as these are highly emotional and exhausting scenes. Presented in the order they were written, the evolution of as a composer is clear, and the inclusion of each opera's overture is clever as it shifts the ear into the new work. (How could you present a program titled without the quotes of in the overture to ?) Ever important in live performances, these overtures also allowed the performers additional time to change their elaborate attire. The technical and emotional range of the lead is put to quite a test in these culminating scenes, and is convincing and captivating throughout. One can hear why this project was an exciting prospect for the soprano. These live recordings were taken from the premiere run of the program at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2019, and 's engineers place the listener squarely in the audience, rightfully retaining some of the crowd's enthusiastic applause. ~ Keith Finke