Verdi: Macbeth (Royal Opera House) (Opus Arte: OABD7095D) [Blu-ray] [2012]

If the concept behind Phyllida Lloyd's direction at the Royal Opera House production of Verdi's Macbeth (revived here under director Harry Fehr) isn't immediately obvious and doesn't seem totally coherent, it's perhaps because the marriage of Verdi and Shakespeare itself in this earlier opera of the composer (unlike the magnificent later adaptations Otello and Falstaff) isn't the most consistent or coherent either. Lloyd's production however remains faithful to Verdi's imperfect interpretation of the work, working closely to mirror the tone of the production with what Simon Keenlyside, in an accompanying interview on the DVD and Blu-ray, vividly describes as the "black tides" of Verdi's score. Partly, that's mirrored in the black, white and red colour schemes, but there's also a sense that the production wants to put all the dark violence, all the horror and its consequences right up there on the stage also.

Here the true nature of the violence is made ever present, and the full extent of its consequences made real. The reign of blood that is embarked upon is visible throughout here and no amount of hand-washing will completely erase it. The stage is often littered with the bodies of Macbeth's crimes that usually take place off-stage, and since all this is so vividly described in Verdi's score, why shouldn't it? Directing the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano seems determined also to tease out some greater subtleties in the score that aren't really there (although the Currentzis/Tcherniakov production for the Paris Opera would beg to differ) and, consequently, it's a little bit too delicate when a bit of a heavier punch would be more appropriate, but it does nonetheless manage to draw that gloomy darkness out of the work very well. For all its efforts to put the horror up on the stage and the close attention paid to the score however, there's initially a detachment between the orchestration and the performances in Act I at least, which seems to be down to there not being enough attention paid to the acting. Things warm up a little by the end of Act II, Act III's potions, prophesies and apparitions are delightfully staged, and thereafter the deepening horror of the drama and the score starts to make the full extent of its presence felt.

At the very least, the listener will be beaten into submission - as they should be - by the singing and presence of Lady Macbeth. The formidable ringing tone and sheer power of Ukranian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska's voice certainly achieves that, even if there isn't always an emotional depth behind her pronouncements and her acting ability is practically non-existent. With that voice, and Verdi behind it, that's not something to worry about in this particular opera however. Simon Keenlyside doesn't have the full heft of a Verdi baritone, but his consideration of his lines and delivery of them makes real the forced bravado and the underlying horror of his fate that lies in his character. That's quite impressive, particularly in his death scene aria 'Mal per me' (the opera working from Verdi's 1865 revision of the opera, but successfully reinstating some of the 1847 cuts like this one). Banquo is also well served by American bass, Raymond Aceto, and his Gran Scena 'Studia il passo, o mio figlio' is sung very well.

The Blu-ray release of Macbeth is up to the expected high standards, the strong high contrast lighting showing good detail, while the mixing on both the PCM Stereo and DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 tracks give a fine account of the score, the mixing (along with Pappano's conducting), achieving a good balance between the orchestration and the singing voices. Extras on the BD include a Cast Gallery, Behind the Scenes Rehearsals and Interviews with Simon Keenlyside, Raymond Aceto and Liudmyla Monastyrska. Subtitles are in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish.

This is my favourite opera of Verdi's first phase, his 10th to be precise... However, the revisions of 1865 is probably the reason why it doesn't sound much less Verdi-ish than his later works.

Firstly, - YAY!!!! NO MACHINE GUNS AND STUFF ON THE STAGE.... This is a very down-to-earth as well as a truly modern production of Macbeth without resorting to cheap symbolism that has started becoming a little trying on a home video viewer who loves to watch a disc over and over.... Sets though bordering on minimal, are quite very adequate. The video is just superb and the sound recording follows suit.

Keenlyside and Monastyrska according to me, make a perfect Macbeth pair... unlike many other productions where the baritone overpowers the soprano to an extent. I prefer Thomas Hampson's (or for that matter Tcherniakov's)voice per se, but we have in Keenlyside, a very sensitive lyrical type of a Baritone, who, by the virtue of his rather softer more subtle delivery of text and voice, plays a brilliant Macbeth to the rather powerful (voiced) delivery of Monastyrska as Lady Macbeth. I have no qualms in proclaiming that Monastyrska is MY type of Lady Macbeth - very manipulative chillingly cold-blooded woman to rule over a powerful but weak-minded individual like Macbeth - never mind if she sings a little sharp at times. I personally feel that Hampson/ Monastyrska hypothetically may not have pulled it off so well.

We are also blessed with an excellent Banquo (Aceto), but the rest of the cast of individual singers though quite adequate, are not really in the class of the main three.
Although the witches do a great job, somehow, their costumes could have been different, and if they wanted the turbans, perhaps beards too could have been in order... after all, it is in the script, but most of the ladies are quite good looking, and the producer perhaps did not want to take that away from them...

What makes this production truly worth owning is the way Papano has interpreted the score. The orchestra is never found wanting, never overpowers the singers, and the choruses are just superlative.
Yes sir, I would definitely recommend this recording to anyone...

This version of Macbeth is the revised Paris version 1864-1865,minus the ballet but keeping the original 1847 Macbeth death aria Mal per me.Phyillida Lloyd and Harry Fehr revive the 2002 staging. A series of stark images in a basic box-set with shuttering walls used the strong symbol of a gilded cage as an image of the dangers of assuming the throne. Colour on the stage is limited to grey,black and dull red. The costumes are traditional. The witches are dressed in black and have red turbans.

Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House with fast tempos and brings out the melodies. Simon Keenlyside is Macbeth,but his baritone voice is too light for the part,which should be darker like Carlos Alvarez who sings in the new Bluray La Forza del destino. Or Renato Bruson in the DVD of Macbeth conducted by Sinopoli.However,having written that I still like his rendition of the part.Lady Macbeth is Liudmyla Monastyrska who is a huge woman who has a big voice but cannot act. Banquo is sung by Raymond Aceto finely, as are the other parts well done. This is an opera that both traditionalists and modernists should like.

All regions. dts HD. 16.9.