Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Brazil if it doesn't stop the Bolsonaro 'witch hunt' trial    Trump praises 'good English' of Liberian president, prompting criticism across Africa    Saudi, Hungarian defense ministers discuss military ties    Al-Rajhi: Cabinet's decision is supportive to most vulnerable groups    King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as Royal Court advisor    Alkhorayef emphasizes Saudi Arabia's growing role as global industrial investment hub    Saudi Arabia adopts World Drowning Prevention Day as national health priority    GACA imposes SR2.8 million in fines for 87 civil aviation violations in Q2 2025    Desperate Gaza doctors cram several babies into one incubator as fuel crisis reaches critical point    Total e-messages sent to parties in lawsuits reach over 11.8 million during first half of 2025    3 arrested in assault case in Riyadh    New Property Ownership Law will take into effect in January 2026 Al-Hogail thanks King and Crown Prince for the updated law    HONOR returns to Esports World Cup as Official Smartphone Partner for 2025 The renewed commitment will see HONOR elevate mobile esports competition with cutting-edge AI technologies and industry-leading hardware    Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT    BLAST responds to BESTIA Visa controversy ahead of CS2 Austin major    Christophe Galtier named NEOM SC head coach ahead of historic Saudi Pro League debut    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Vocal trouble beset Lyric's ‘Macbeth'
MIKE SILVERMAN
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 04 - 10 - 2010

CHICAGO: Verdi's “Macbeth” is one of the composer's most thrilling youthful accomplishments, brimming with a dark vitality perfectly suited to the tale of the murderous Scottish king and his bloodthirsty wife.
The new production that opened the Lyric Opera season Friday night captures much of this brooding quality, especially in its stark and sleek metallic sets designed by James Noone.
But to a frustrating extent it's undermined by problematic performances from the two lead singers, Thomas Hampson and Nadja Michael.
Hampson, a veteran American baritone renowned for his burnished tone and interpretive powers, has a voice that's one size too small for the histrionic demands of Verdi's title character. In moments when the natural beauty of his sound can shine through he is effective, but too often he is forced into a kind of blustery shouting.
Michael, a German soprano making her Lyric debut, evokes visceral thrills with her penetrating top notes, of which Verdi gave Lady Macbeth more than her share. But the part also calls for a powerful lower register, something Michael lacks. Worse, she has a tendency to sing flat in her middle register.
Still, she's a fascinating performer to watch, her tall, willowy figure and long blond hair set off effectively by Virgil C. Johnson's slinky, low-cut dresses.
Director Barbara Gaines, founder of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater but new to opera, rightly tries to take advantage of her leading lady's natural assets by emphasizing the sexual bond between the couple. It's a perversely dysfunctional relationship: Their most passionate embrace comes right after they have plotted yet another murder.
In a dream sequence, the childless Macbeth imagines his wife has brought him their two sons to play with. This has some poignancy because it comes moments after the witches have told him it will be Banquo's sons who inherit the throne. Finally, in Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene, she approaches a sleeping Macbeth, who rejects her advances – as if to suggest this is what has brought on her madness.
These are all intriguing notions, but there is too little chemistry or connection between Hampson and Michael to make them fully work. Much of the time, husband and wife seem almost to be performing in separate orbits.
“Macbeth” isn't quite a two-person show. Verdi allots one memorable aria each to Banquo, Macbeth's one-time friend and later victim, and to Macduff, who eventually vanquishes the villain. In these roles, Slovak bass Stefan Kocan and Italian-American tenor Leonardo Capalbo, respectively, turn in modestly effective performances. Conducting the Lyric orchestra, Renato Palumbo keeps the tempos brisk – even rushed at times, causing the players and singers to fall out of sync.
Where Noone and Gaines have succeeded most is in creating a chilly, ominous atmosphere for the opera. Even before it starts, the audience is greeted by a metallic curtain that harshly reflects lights from the auditorium. At the bottom is a painted forest, a reminder of Macbeth's downfall, when Birnam Wood shall “come to Dunsinane.” The opening scene is humorously spooky, with the three witches flying in, not on broomsticks but in harness. One of these flying witches later rescues Banquo's son, Fleance, who instead of running away from his father's killers, is airlifted to safety. A wonderful flame made of wind-blown fabric and lit from within burns center stage. Large curved metallic walls form the backdrop – a concept said to be inspired by Frank Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion at Chicago's Millennium Park.


Clic here to read the story from its source.