In writing the libretto based on leskovs naturalistic short story with leningrad playwright alexander preis, shostakovich loved the character of katerina izmaylova so deeply that he could not bear to see her as lady macbeth, that is, as a wanton murderer who kills. Opera on 3 shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk lady macbeth of mtsensk. Katerina s husband has left for work, and she has gone back to bed. Lady macbeth of mtsensk tickets in new york met opera. Nov 12, 2014 the soprano evamaria westbroek stars as a poignant yet earthy restless housewife in the metropolitan operas production of shostakovichs 1934 opera lady macbeth of mtsensk. Homeshostakovichlady macbeth of mtsensk movie weigl 19781992. Although one of the mainsprings of the work, the shakespearean parallel is here bitterly ironic.
Lady macbeth of the mtsensk district novella wikipedia. Please print out your ticket and bring it with you to the metropolitan opera house. Mtsensk, which stands on the zusha river, 30 miles from. Lady macbeth of mtsensk, an opera in four acts by dmitri shostakovich. He was fortunate to have assembled a terrific cast, led by anna netrebkos house debut as lady macbeth, a notoriously difficult role to tackle. Mark wigglesworth visits to discuss both this and the force of destiny on 2 november. The soprano evamaria westbroek stars as a poignant yet earthy restless housewife in the metropolitan operas production of shostakovichs 1934 opera lady macbeth of mtsensk.
Katerina, the young wife of the merchant zinovi izmailov, is bored. Shostakovich loved the title character of nikolai leskovs lady macbeth of the mtsensk district perhaps not wisely but too well. Lev dodin directs this production of dmitri shostakovichs sympathetic portrait of katherina, a woman who is driven to violence by societys restrictions. Lady macbeth of the mtsensk district opera wikipedia. The libretto of shostakovich s bitterly satirical 1934 opera, lady macbeth of mtsensk, sets the first scene in the bedroom of katerina, the restless wife of a dull merchant who has taken over the prosperous family business from his oafish father. Lady macbeth intercedes and the two grapple for control, until she successfully lowers it, anchoring macbeths mind. The soviet censors condemnation of lady macbeth of mtsensk just a few years after its wildly popular premiere effectively crushed shostakovichs operatic career, a genuine musical tragedy, because lady macbeth and its predecessor, the nose, reveal shostakovich to have all the instincts of a born opera composer. The new york met opera features lady macbeth of mtsensk, a story about a young woman who falls in love and commits adultery but that is only the beginning of her indiscretions. Ken howardmetropolitan opera a scene from shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk. The opera was completed in 1932 and enjoyed a great success in russia and abroad including a. Among its themes are the subordinate role expected from women in 19thcentury european society, adultery. Apr 17, 2018 lady macbeth of mtsensk is the work of a youthful genius in a state of tumultuous emotional confusion, passionate and enraged but already frustrated and constricted by the soviet system under. This atmospheric production, starring zeljko lucic and maria guleghina, highlights the ferocious royal couples erotic connection as the lynchpin of their ruthlessness. And i say, like wozzeck and lulu, the story is harsh and difficult, but the composition and performance are virtuosic.
Arthaus its been nearly three years since the canadian opera companys gutwrenchingly satisfying production of dmitri shostakovichs. In the best of leskovs stories, as in almost no others a. Read online lady macbeth of mtsensk and other stories pdf by. A blistering attack, a punch in the gut, an opera that leaves an indelible brand on the imagination shostakovich wrote his masterpiece lady macbeth of the mtsensk district, when he was barely 30 years old, a work that takes opera to new, intense and erotic heights. Esteemed shakespearean director adrian noble focuses on the timeless and universal themes embraced by verdi. You can also collect your tickets earlier at national operas box office at snfcc. Lady macbeth of mtsensk, english national opera the arts. The soldout premiere showcased the companys astonishing orchestra and chorus, joined here by a roster of extraordinary guest stars and even a few ensemble singers.
Lady macbeth of mtsensk by john rockwell, special to the new york times. The mets vivid lady macbeth of mtsensk heralds sweeping changes for the opera world programs turn topsyturvy as offbeat titles take centerstage by james jorden 111914 11. Like soviet critics of the time, shostakovich saw the heroine as the embodiment of protest against a corrupt and stultifying bourgeois society and therefore justifiable in. Ken howardmetropolitan opera evamaria westbroek center as katerina in shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk. Shostakovich lady macbeth of mtsensk jansons part 1 youtube. Lady macbeth of mtsensk was a masterly choice to usher in the new era of a company which conductor edward gardner has left in peerless artistic shape. The operas climactic scenes are driven by music of incredible power, and there are pages of haunting lyric beauty as well, such as katarinas aria in scene 3, or the extraordinary music that begins the love scene between katarina and sergeymysterious, edgy, sensuous, and vast.
This was one excellent evening full of excitement and great musical experiences. With ludovit ludha, carole wilson, alexandre kravets, martin vijgenboom. The soldout premiere showcased the companys astonishing orchestra and chorus, joined here by a roster of extraordinary guest stars and even a few. Buy tickets for lady macbeth of mtsensk in london with fast delivery, at encore tickets. The main flaws in rostropovichs historic recording of this opera with galina vishnevskaya in the titlerole and by historic i dont mean old but that soprano and conductor, both close friends of the composer, were obviously fired by the importance of recording the work in its unexpurgated form for the first time, and communicated that fire to their colleagues are its very close focus on. Ole anders tandbergs production of shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk, which arrived at deutsche oper in january seen jan. Lady macbeth of mtsensk at katerina and sergis wedding reception, a drunken guest makes a frightening discovery in the wine cellar. Five great stories from one of the most quintessentially russian of writers, nikolai leskov. Classical music features apr 18, 2015 evamaria westbroek as katerina in shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk.
When soviet leaders denounced the opera two years later, the composer feared for his freedom, and even his life. One of the masterpieces of shostakovichs early years, and one of the great operas of the 20th century, lady macbeth is a masterly and. Evamaria westbroek lady macbeth of mtsensk youtube. For london audiences, it was english national operas 1987 production that really put shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk on the operatic map. Mets lady macbeth of mtsensk a musical and visual triumph. The opera lady macbeth of the mtsensk district, first performed in leningrad in 1934, is a. The mets lady macbeth heralds changes for the opera. Lady macbeth of mtsensk opera season 1819 programming. Shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk from the royal opera house. Download the new ipad app to watch on your tv with apple tv via airplay. The point is this is that lady macbeth of mtsensk one of the important operas of world history, regardless of the value of the opera itself. When soviet leaders denounced the opera two years later. Another first time for discovering new opera in live performance i have seen shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk recorded on mezzo, while nothing compares to the live experience with excellent orchestra led by legendary conductor and proper cast and staging. It was originally published in fyodor dostoyevskys magazine epoch among its themes are the subordinate role expected from women in 19thcentury european society, adultery, provincial life thus drawing comparison with flaubert.
Lady macbeth of mtsensk movie weigl 19781992 opera on video. Lady macbeth of mtsensk as a time machine in salzburg. Lady macbeth of mtsensk, english national opera searing music drama from soprano, director and conductor for enos new era. In lady macbeth of the mtsensk district, leskov eschews his muchused skaz narratorthe chatty, distracted, halfeducated storyteller who reveals more about himself than about his tale. Jan 15, 2010 when lady macbeth of mtsensk was premiered in 1934, it made shostakovich a star. The metropolitan opera mourns the death of one of our most beloved artists, mezzosoprano rosalind elias, who sang 687 performances with the company over a period of 42 years. Ledi makbet mtsenskovo uyezda is an 1865 novella by nikolai leskov. Macbeth, haunted by banquos ghost, raises a chair as if to hurl it across the stage.
Fabio luisi thoroughly understands the dark tinta of this early verdi opera and he led a gripping account of the score urgent, pacy, yet drawing wonderfully rich colours from lower strings and woodwinds. Star soprano anna netrebko delivers a searing portrayal as lady macbeth, the murderously cunning consort of zeljko lucics doomed macbeth. This wildly popular opera by dmitri shostakovich was banned in the soviet union for 30 years starting in the 1930s and today is credited with playing a major role in. Categories opera met opera productions vocal recital box sets compilations classical childrens ballet holiday view all featured sale cds 201920 season 201920 artists recommended for you the inaugural season. Lady macbeth of the mtsensk district calendar deutsche. Petersburg leningrad premiered at the norwegian national opera and ballet oslo on 5th september, 2014 premiered at the deutsche oper berlin on 25th january, 2015 the pivotal character of dmitri shostakovichs opera lady macbeth of mzensk is the. Read pdf lady macbeth of mtsensk and other stories absolutely for free at. Met opera on demand delivers instant access to more than 500 met performances, including live in hd videos, classic telecasts and radio broadcasts. Shostakovich lady macbeth of mtsensk jansons part 1. Lady macbeth would disappear from the repertory for 30 years, and shostakovich, despite his great gifts for opera, would focus his attention on symphonic and chamber music instead. Svetlana sozdateleva has been a leading soloist at helikon opera moscow since 1999 and performed katerina izmailova in lady macbeth of mtsensk, liza in the queen of spades, maria in mazeppa, lady macbeth in macbeth, abigaille in nabucco, emilia marty in the makropulos case, carmen, madame lidoine in dialogues des. Mets lady macbeth of mtsensk stars evamaria westbroek. Shostakovich made a revised version, katerina ismailova, in 1962, that toned down.
Shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk from the royal opera house, covent garden. If the lady macbeth of mtsensk is the best known of nikolai leskovs works outside russia, that is owing mainly to the opera dmitri shostakovich made of it in 1934. The central russian town of mtsensk is best known outside russia from dmitry shostakovichs opera, lady macbeth of mtsensk district. Lady macbeth of mtsensk, royal opera house superb revival. Lady macbeth of the mtsensk district dmitri shostakovich. When lady macbeth of mtsensk was premiered in 1934, it made shostakovich a star. The heroines unbearable loneliness, suffocating social conventions and love, burning with explicit sexuality, combine in a. Lady macbeth of mtsensk is sung in russian with met titles in english, german and spanish. Ledi makbet mtsenskogo uyezda is an opera in four acts and nine scenes by dmitri shostakovich, his opus 29. Shortly after your booking is complete, you will receive an eticket by email. Aug 20, 2012 the central russian town of mtsensk is best known outside russia from dmitry shostakovichs opera, lady macbeth of mtsensk district. Apr 02, 2004 for london audiences, it was english national opera s 1987 production that really put shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk on the operatic map. Netrebko and lucic reign in new york by bachtrack for.
Single tickets and create your own series for the new season are now on sale. In 1934, a 27yearold shostakovich presented to an enthusiastic public a tragisatirical opera lady macbeth of mtsensk based on an 1864 story by nikolai leskov. The libretto, jointly written by alexander preys and the composer, is based on the novella of the same name by nikolai leskov. Opera in 4 acts libretto by alexander preis, based on the novelle by nikolai leskow first performed on 22nd january, 1934 at the maly theater st. She is joined by zeljko lucic, who brings dramatic intensity and vocal authority to the title role of the honest general driven to murder and deceit by his ambitious wife. Lady macbeth of mtsensk, royal opera house, london music. Of shostakovichs initial undertaking a trilogy on the tragic destinies of russian women through the ages only one opera was ever written. Opera on 3 shostakovichs lady macbeth of mtsensk lady. Read online lady macbeth of mtsensk and other stories pdf. Lady macbeth van mtsensk ledi makbet mtsenskogo uyezda dmitri sjostakovitsj opera in vier bedrijven libretto van aleksander prejs.
Lady macbeth of mtsensk is the work of a youthful genius in a state of tumultuous emotional confusion, passionate and enraged but already. Star soprano anna netrebko created a sensation with her riveting performance as the malevolent lady macbeth, the central character in verdis retelling of shakespeares tragedy. It was originally published in fyodor dostoyevsky s magazine epoch. The opera, considered by many to be one of the masterpieces of the 20th century, was tragically condemned two years later in the soviet newspaper pravda after stalin attended a performance, and disappeared from the repertoire. Nikolai smolich and vladimir dmitriev, dir small opera theatre of the state. In the sleepwalking scene, lady macbeth walks atop an aisle of chairs, created stepbystep by the witches, whove taken hold of her senses. Lady macbeth of the mtsensk district bayerische staatsoper. Lady macbeth of mtsensk, english national opera the arts desk. Lady macbeth of the mtsensk district work opera online. Eticket after purchasing your tickets online you may download them in pdf.
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