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Post by n1david on Mar 27, 2018 9:03:26 GMT
Well this was rather jolly on Sunday afternoon.
Anna Netrebko is the draw here, and she doesn't disappoint. She plays the part big, giving passion if not precision to her arias. Željko Lučić is an appropriate foil, with a lovely baritone voice, although I found him a bit throaty at the start. It's the first time I've seen this opera, but am very familiar with the play, and it's a pleasure to see the story romp along (compared to the NT version I saw earlier in the week...) Thought the chorus was a bit underpowered as the witches, but the orchestra played wonderfully.
Not making any claims for theatrical or opera perfection, but the most fun I've had at the opera for a while, and a perfect Sunday afternoon.
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Post by vabbian on Mar 28, 2018 15:35:45 GMT
Does anyone know if there will be an encore cinema screening for this?
I wont be in the UK!!
Dying to see Netrebko
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Post by tonyloco on Mar 29, 2018 8:58:58 GMT
Does anyone know if there will be an encore cinema screening for this? I wont be in the UK!! The only Encore showing of the ROH 'Macbeth' I know of is on Sunday 8 April at 2 pm at the Vue Cinema at Harrow. There may be others but the Vue Cinema website is not easy to navigate, at least not for an old technophobe like me, and the ROH website is surprisingly secretive about Encore screenings of its live broadcasts. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2018 9:05:33 GMT
My localish Vue has it shown as 19:15 on Wednesday 4th and 14:00 on Sunday 8th.
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Post by vabbian on Mar 29, 2018 9:58:36 GMT
Thanks guys!
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Post by lynette on Apr 2, 2018 16:23:40 GMT
Well this was rather jolly on Sunday afternoon. Anna Netrebko is the draw here, and she doesn't disappoint. She plays the part big, giving passion if not precision to her arias. Željko Lučić is an appropriate foil, with a lovely baritone voice, although I found him a bit throaty at the start. It's the first time I've seen this opera, but am very familiar with the play, and it's a pleasure to see the story romp along (compared to the NT version I saw earlier in the week...) Thought the chorus was a bit underpowered as the witches, but the orchestra played wonderfully. Not making any claims for theatrical or opera perfection, but the most fun I've had at the opera for a while, and a perfect Sunday afternoon. Looks like you picked the best Macbeth on offer at the moment. |
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Post by n1david on Apr 2, 2018 16:34:38 GMT
Looks like you picked the best Macbeth on offer at the moment. Unfortunately I have already suffered at the hands of Rufus, and am reluctant to bail on my Stratford trip later this year... But from what I expect this will remain the best of the three... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 17:50:19 GMT
This is on at my local cineworld tomorrow. Should I go? I could do with no spending £17 really. I've only seen two operas - both Puccini (Butterfly and Tosca) so I have no idea if I'd like Verdi....
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Post by n1david on Apr 3, 2018 17:54:55 GMT
This is on at my local cineworld tomorrow. Should I go? I could do with no spending £17 really. I've only seen two operas - both Puccini (Butterfly and Tosca) so I have no idea if I'd like Verdi.... If you're familiar with Macbeth (the play), I would have thought that you'd enjoy seeing how the story is interpreted in a different art form. There's quite a lot of Shakespeare's words in the text and the plot is essentially the same, so you'd have a head start in following the plot. Verdi is (in my opinion) one of the more musical composers, like Puccini, so there is some lovely music in there, and Anna Netrebko makes for a compelling Lady. So, if you're interested in trying more opera, I'd have thought this would be a good next step for you (and I write as still something of an opera novice myself). But only you can determine the value of spending that £17 somewhere else instead... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 18:08:19 GMT
This is on at my local cineworld tomorrow. Should I go? I could do with no spending £17 really. I've only seen two operas - both Puccini (Butterfly and Tosca) so I have no idea if I'd like Verdi.... If you're familiar with Macbeth (the play), I would have thought that you'd enjoy seeing how the story is interpreted in a different art form. There's quite a lot of Shakespeare's words in the text and the plot is essentially the same, so you'd have a head start in following the plot. Verdi is (in my opinion) one of the more musical composers, like Puccini, so there is some lovely music in there, and Anna Netrebko makes for a compelling Lady. So, if you're interested in trying more opera, I'd have thought this would be a good next step for you (and I write as still something of an opera novice myself). But only you can determine the value of spending that £17 somewhere else instead... Thank you. I think I'll give it a go. I liked the operas I've seen so far, and I do know the play, so it'd be interesting to see. I don't think I fancy Wagner type operas, but I imagine Verdi should be fairly accessible. |
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Post by theatre-turtle on Apr 3, 2018 18:27:19 GMT
This is on at my local cineworld tomorrow. Should I go? I could do with no spending £17 really. I've only seen two operas - both Puccini (Butterfly and Tosca) so I have no idea if I'd like Verdi.... The music is highly accessible but I don't think it's as catchy as some of his other work like Rigoletto. It's a very good theatrical production though and you'll get to see Netrebko who is one of opera's biggest stars in a role that she is outstanding in. |
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Post by AddisonMizner on Apr 5, 2018 16:44:16 GMT
I saw this last night (in the House, not at the cinema), and have to say that this was probably one of the best opera performances in the (relatively short) time I have been going to the ROH.
I apologise for what is to follow, as it is mainly a love letter to Anna Netrebko, who I heard live for the first time and was my primary reason for going in the first place. What she delivered was some of the best singing I have EVER heard. The sheer size and power of the voice was thrilling enough. She soared above the orchestra and chorus effortlessly, and was audible whether she had her back turned upstage, or was laying on her back. It was as if she was singing right next to me all night. The lower part of the voice was gorgeous with a proper chest voice, and her pianissimo and dimineundo singing was sublime, carrying in the house just as much as her at full tilt. However, it was how she used and coloured the voice that really impressed. No repeat of music or text was ever the same. For example, in the second act banquet scene, the first verse was sung jovially, with a bright, almost light sound. On the repeat, it was given a much darker, rounder colour to show her anger/distress at her husbands’ visions in front of the guests. In her sleepwalking scene, the tone of the first line (“Out damned spot”) was bleached of all colour, and subsequent lines were equally coloured to reflect the text. It wasn’t always “beautiful”, but was rooted in the drama. Plus, she is such a stage animal and charasmatic presence that it hardly matters. I could hardly take my eyes off of her, and I would go and see her again in a heartbeat. I cannot wait to (hopefully) get tickets for FORZA DEL DESTINO next season.
The other soloists were very secure. I was particularly impressed with Netrebko’s husband, Yusif as Macduff. I have heard and read others who have said that his voice is not particularly pleasing or that he is simply not very good. Based on last night, I do not know what they have been listening to. I felt that he sang beautifully, and again his voice really carried without him having to push, with ease in the house. Comparing him with Kaufmann (who I also admire), and who sings very similar repertoire, Yusif would certainly be more at home in the more dramatic repertoire.
Antonio Pappano once again demonstrated what a fine conductor he is, drawing some fine playing from the orchestra. The Chorus were on fire, and there were some truly spine-tingling moments, which made me sit up in my seat when they were all going for it.
I didn’t even mind the production, which was a very efficient staging. I have certainly seen worse, even if parts of the set did remind me of a giant Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.
Netrebko’s evening by far, but a thrilling one that I won’t soon forget!
5 stars
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Post by tmesis on Apr 7, 2018 21:52:29 GMT
I have little to add to the spot-on AddisonMizner review. At tonight's performance Netrebko was in a class apart from the rest of the cast and most sopranos of today. She is really the only singer today to conjure up thoughts and comparisons with the great singers of previous times and not be in any way wanting. I saw her around two years ago and was not that impressed but that was in La Boheme (also at The Garden) and I now think heavier roles suit her better - it's great that her next role is a heavyweight in La Forza del Destino. The production was OK; almost traditional by present day standards, but I think it already looks very dated - in fact it reminds me design-wise of a production of Ernani done by WNO in the early 80s! After Netrebko the other star of the evening was Pappano. We all know he's terrific in Puccini but I think early Verdi suits him even better. He got such detail and life out of the score and he particularly encourages inspired playing from the woodwind. Oh and the chorus was superb. Edit: Netrebko's wig is awful! |
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Post by Mr Snow on Apr 8, 2018 8:29:30 GMT
If you're familiar with Macbeth (the play), I would have thought that you'd enjoy seeing how the story is interpreted in a different art form. There's quite a lot of Shakespeare's words in the text and the plot is essentially the same, so you'd have a head start in following the plot. Verdi is (in my opinion) one of the more musical composers, like Puccini, so there is some lovely music in there, and Anna Netrebko makes for a compelling Lady. So, if you're interested in trying more opera, I'd have thought this would be a good next step for you (and I write as still something of an opera novice myself). But only you can determine the value of spending that £17 somewhere else instead... Thank you. I think I'll give it a go. I liked the operas I've seen so far, and I do know the play, so it'd be interesting to see. I don't think I fancy Wagner type operas, but I imagine Verdi should be fairly accessible. I hope you do go and report back. Macbeth isn't the close to being the first Verdi I'd recommend someone to try, but you won’t hear a better performed version anytime soon. Fabulous evening. |
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Post by tonyloco on Apr 8, 2018 18:39:56 GMT
I have just seen the Encore screening of the ROH 'Macbeth' at the Vue cinema at Harrow. Basically I enjoyed it very much for the excellent musical and dramatic performances of all the principals, led by the sensational Anna Netrebko who is fast confirming her reputation as a genuine superstar. For a detailed commentary on her performance please see AddisonMizner's perceptive review above, and as mentioned elsewhere, the orchestra and chorus were excellent under Antonio Pappano. BTW I noticed that the seats at both ends of the Stalls Circle near the proscenium where I loved to sit had not been sold for the 'Macbeth'.
Now I want to make a few comments on other things. Firstly, I enjoyed the production a lot more then when I saw it previously. I had a feeling that the witches' dancing had been reduced. Did the production previously include more of the ballet music? Whatever the reason, I thought their scenes worked very well. But other aspects of the production missed important dramatic elements. For example, the banquet scene was just rather silly without people sitting around a table, especially as the whole point of Banquo's ghost is that it materialises in Macbeth's seat at the head of the table and scares the bejabers out of him. There was no real feeling of Macbeth being shocked here and although Macbeth said to the ghost: 'Don't shake your gory locks at me' (or at least that's what the subtitles said) there was no sign of any gore, or the twenty trenched gashes (or whatever) in his head. The ghost just continued to look like Banquo when he was alive...or was I not paying attention?
My other complaint is that technically the showing at the Harrow Vue Cinema was poor. Sound wise it could have been better and I could have done without what sounded like rumbling tube trains in the bass a lot of the time. Visually it was particularly disappointing, with what seemed like a grey mist all over the screen in what should have been dark areas of the scene and even the view of the interior of the Royal Opera House during the interval looked as if mist from the sea had rolled in! I wonder whether these technical problems were general in the broadcast or just a problem at Harrow where the perhaps the technician responsible for the showing had failed to set up the projection equipment correctly. I don't remember these faults in the last ROH broadcast I saw which was the Kaufmann 'Otello', or perhaps that was more brightly lit throughout.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Apr 29, 2018 15:55:32 GMT
I have to confess that whilst Željko Lučić gave a truly world class performance, Anna was quite disappointing. Her acting was thrilling and at times so was the voice, but all too often I felt her vocals were a bit lack-lustre. If anyone saw Liudmyla Monastyrska back in 2011 you will know what I mean...that was one of those nights I will never forget. Funnily enough she returns in the next season sharing the role of Leonora in La Forza Del Destino with Anna!
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