Reviews

Bloodshed in classic

21/09/2010

PUBLICATION: www.times.co.nz
REVIEWED BY: Marianne Kelly
WHERE: Aotea Centre, opening night

The uninitiated may ask where the tartan and bagpipes are. But a new production of Macbeth is a dazzling surprise. Shakespeare's sanguinary plot of unbridled ambition, corruption and bloodshed is one of three of the Bard's works set to music by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.

It's operatic drama and regarded as one of the finest reinventions of Shakespeare.

Internationally acclaimed director Tim Albery has brought the production, which was originally created in 2008 for Opera North in the UK, to these shores for NBR New Zealand Opera.

It's given a contemporary spin, such as Lady Macbeth sporting a tailored jacket and knee-length skirt, witches in charlady garb and the male cast in dinner suits.

But there's no doubt about the gruesome plot, even if the operatic licence of newborn babies being tossed through the air raises a chuckle - and questions about what CYF would think.

Verdi has given greater prominence to Lady Macbeth than Shakespeare did, and Italian soprano Antonia Cifrone is the star in the role. Not only does she give a powerful vocal performance but her acting is compelling, whether lambasting her husband for his cowardice or writhing with angst during her sleepwalking scene.

Romanian baritone Michele Kalmandi's voice resounds as the haunted Macbeth, while New Zealand-born Jud Arthur is in strong support as his friend Banquo.

Another highlight is the prominence given to the chorus, which sets the scene throughout with exhilarating singing from the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus, ably accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Their (the chorus') lament at leaving their homeland is another contemporary spin. A combination of Verdi's music and costuming presents a notion of Eastern European refugees rather than Scottish.

Which all adds to the intrigue. The challenge is to come to grips with a well-known plot lifted out of Shakespearean England and the Bard's words set to music in Italian, albeit accompanied by helpful English surtitles.

Music lovers and dramatic arts enthusiasts will find equal fascination with this production.

• Verdi's Macbeth is being held at the Aotea Centre, The Edge, central Auckland, on Thursday and Saturday at 7.30pm. Tickets are $49.50-$187.50 from the NZO box office on (09) 379-4068, The Edge on 0800-289-842, or log onto www.the-edge.co.nz.

• Under-25s with ID can buy one ticket each for $25 in person from 10am on the day of performances from the box office. They are subject to availability, and cannot be reserved or put on hold.

 

 

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Did you know?

Early opera resembled the atmosphere of a race course - chatting, food, laughter and loud comments were the norm.

During all our opera performances an English translation of the libretto is projected on screens above the stage, so you can easily follow the story.

If you are 25 years old or under you can purchase $25 tickets at the venue box office before any performance.

The world's longest opera is Wagner's The Ring Cycle, lasting over 14 hours plus intervals. That's 18 hours at the theatre.

The world's longest applause lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes as a standing ovation. The opera: Otello starring Placido Domingo.

On average, an opera will last between 2 and 3 hours, with one interval in a two act show, and two in a three act show. Operettas and musicals tend to be shorter.

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