Radvanovsky Rocks as the Ill-Fated Anna Bolena

The Met is giving Sondra Radvanovsky the opportunity to sing all three Tudor queen roles, and she has made a spectacular start.

(L–R) Olivia Shidler as Elizabeth, Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role, and Tamara Mumford as Smeton in Donizetti's "Anna Bolena." Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

NEW YORK—Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) died without knowing he had written the “Three Tudor Queens” trilogy. Actually, he had written three separate operas and didn’t even have the same singer in mind to star in all of them. Beverly Sills introduced the idea; she had performed the taxing roles at the New York City Opera during the 1970s.

This season, the Metropolitan Opera is giving Sondra Radvanovsky the opportunity to sing all three roles, and she has made a spectacular start with “Anna Bolena.”

Radvanovsky gives a riveting performance, musically and dramatically.