Verdi's Macbeth at the Royal Opera House and Odeon Cinemas

[Chris Newman]

I know there is another thread on Macbeth and Opera on R3 but its title seems out of date.

I went tonight to my local Odeon and heard a tremedous performance of Verdi's Macbeth live from the ROH. Hi Definition Screening and 5.1 Surround Sound put Antonio Pappano's brilliant orchestra right at the front of the theatre.

The key to this remarkable piece of theatre is the extremely intelligent and dynamic staging by Phyllida LLoyd. I have not seen Verdi's Macbeth before. I have two off-air recordings but was not aware that this opera was so stageable. The witches are almost omnipresent, a water pump at the front of the stage is very symbolic and the chorus morphs continuously from oppressed people (a la Boris Godounov), soldiers and witches. Children and beds dominate the stage with good reason.

Simon Keenlyside has really matured as a Verdi baritone. I last heard him as Posa in Don Carlo and since then he has opened out and sounds less pressured. This evening I took a friend whose only experience of opera is The Mikado and he found Keenlyside the most thrilling actor of his experience. I ahave to agree; he was mesmorising and performed seemingly unimpared by a frame encasing his arm having been injured in rehearsals. My two aforementioned recordings feature Peter Glossop and Tito Gobbi. It is no exaggeration to say that Keenlyside is now more beautifully voiced than either of those fine singers. Lady Macbeth, Liudmyla Monastyrska, had a huge voice which in the right places could be reined in to a firm pianissimo. Her voice and stage presence reminded me of Rita Hunter. The acting was there in abundance in her face. A rich voiced Raymond Aceto excelled as Banquo. Other parts were delivered with great panache by young company members.

It was lovely to hear people cheering and applauding in a cinema.

[Alf-Prufrock]

Thanks for this review. I am sure the performance will be out on DVD before long, and I shall buy it. I am a great Keenlyside fan and fully agree with your admiration.

But - he is in some kind of cage? And Joyce di Donato last year in a wheelchair (or was it the year before?) What are these new-style directors doing to our artists? Is modern production all too strenuous?

[Chris Newman]

If you watch Keenlyside on the fine ROH Don Giovanni (the Mackerras one) where he scampers up and down the 30 foot high walls of Seville at the back of the stage you will see how he readily exposes himself to danger. I saw him later with Pappano and a different cast. What with the twenty plus foot high flames he is quite a stuntman.

There were steps up the proscenium walls in Macbeth but they were not used: one can only suppose

A DVD is promised for early next year. I should think it will sell well. The ads at the start said it was showing worldwide live in 600 cinemas.

[Mahlerei]

A fantastic initiative, this. I only wish my local fleapit would show these things.

[Stanfordian]

I attended at my local cinema which was well attended. There were people in the audience clapping here too. I really loved the performance especially the powerful Russian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska. Pappano can certainly conduct Verdi! I quite liked Phyllida Lloyd's production. Not sure about the orangey-red turbans on the witches but were where was the cauldron?

I had some reservations initially but I was won over. I will certainly attend one of these live opera transmissions again in the future.

[Nicolaas Witsen]

Glad to hear this came over so well in the cinema (I've grown to enjoy the medium - a repeat of the Met Die Walkure in store over the weekend!), for it came over pretty well in the opera house last Friday. I liked the production a lot, the large number of witches well managed from the outset, and much seemed to flow well. I have followed Simon Keenylside's career with great interest since I first heard him live in 1995, and he one of my favourite singers. I liked his Posa a lot, the only other Verdi role I've seen him in. He sang this role with his usual panache, but I did not feel it was entirely his role. Maybe this was more to do with the interaction with the Lady, which did not seem to gel to me. Monastyrska was amazing and quite how I have wanted to hear this role sung live, but never have, until now. Dark tones, gleamimg top, good colaratura and although the acting was a little old school, I did not care. She dominated the ensembles vocally and I found her thrilling. Banquo and Macduff all sang well too, and of course Pappano was on his element. Long may we hang on to him. Should make a good DVD and I hope it appears on Opus Arte soon.

[Chris Newman]

Opera on 3 is currently giving me happy memories of a special night at the cinema. I can see the American Raymond Aceto eventually replacing ROH veterans like Robert Lloyd and Erik Halverson in the big bass roles, if they can afford him in a few years time. Lady Macbeth does get the lioness's share of the singing so it is good they have a voice like Liudmyla Monastyrska.