Tag Archives: Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth – Review
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd February 2022Joel Coen, of Coen brothers renown, has filmed an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play – his first on his own. The movie had a limited run before moving to Apple TV+. Recorded in stark black and white with an almost square aspect ratio, it is an effective evocation of the great play. Interestingly, the version used…
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Finale 4 – Macbeth Act 2
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 17th November 2015The finale to Act 1 of Verdi’s Macbeth is not the only great one in the opera. Like the previous one this finale is untouched by the 1865 revision. Macbeth has become unhinged by Banquo’s ghost whom only he can see. The ghost is a party crasher. Obviously his presence ruins the evening. Of course,…
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Finale 3 – Macbeth Act 1
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 5th November 2015No composer wrote as many great operatic finales as did Giuseppe Verdi. His Macbeth is a creature of both his early and middle periods. Originally written in 1847 and first presented at Florence’s Teatro della Pergola in March of that year it was was extensively revised in 1865. This revised version was first performed at…
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Macbeth in HD
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 11th October 2014Verdi’s masterful transposition of Shakespeare’s play to the lyric stage received its second HD transmission by the Met. Zeljko Lucic again played the title as in 2008. But today’s focus was Macbeth’s frightening spouse impersonated by Anna Netrebko. The Russian diva has undergone an astounding transformation since her Met debut more than 12 years ago as…
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Tutto Verdi: Macbeth
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 21st July 2013The Teatro Regio di Parma recorded Macbeth as part of its series of all of Verdi’s operas in October (rather than the June given below) of 2006. The video was taken from six different performances which makes one wonder if there was a lot of singing that was off on any given night. Macbeth is…
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Recording of the Week: Macbeth
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd March 2010First performed in 1847, Verdi’s Macbeth took 112 years to reach New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Part of the interval was unavoidable as the house didn’t open until 1883. When the work finally did reach the Met the company made up as much as possible for they delay with a superlative production. Verdi’s 10th opera was…
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Macbeth in HD
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 13th January 2008In the third HD telecast of this season (January 12, 2008) the Met finally got around to one of opera’s great masterpieces. Unfortunately Macbeth is not performed as often as its worth merits. In fact, it wasn’t first performed at the Met until February 5, 1959, with Leonard Warren and Leonie Rysanek as the Macbeths….
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