Soprano Sarah Coburn intended to become a music teacher, but after encouragement during her undergraduate days to pursue voice lessons, the Oklahoma native decided to take the advice. A decade and a healthy number of key awards and grants later, she is performing her fifth Lucia in Washington National Opera’s production of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” “My journey to this role has been a bit different,” she said. “The first time, I sang the French version, followed by the Italian. When I sang it two years ago, I was sleep-deprived with a newborn, so my Lucia has evolved vocally because of the changes in my life. I look forward to this production with a double cast that allows rest between performances and the opportunity to learn from my colleagues.

“The Victorian setting is very thrilling, spare and spooky. The lighting sets a menacing tone. These are not rooms I’d like to hang out in. When I reach the mad scene, it’s all about letting loose onstage, not portraying a mad person. In this production, the audience will understand that it’s more about what the character feels and what she believes is happening.”