A torrid Lady Macbeth in Prague

Denys Pivnickij (Sergey) and Alžběta Poláčková (Katerina)

Josef Moravec (Zinovy), Alžběta Poláčková (Katerina) and František Zahradníček (Boris)

František Zahradníček (Boris) and Alžběta Poláčková (Katerina)

Alžběta Poláčková (Katerina)

Csaba Kotlár (Policeman), Jan Hnyk (Sergeant), Josef Moravec (Zinovy) and chorus

By Frank Kuznik, 26 November 2023

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“Čičvák is very sharp in his depiction of the police as corrupt simpletons”

Reviewed at State Opera (Státní opera), Prague on 24 November 2023

Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District

Prague State Opera

Hermann Bäumer, Conductor

Richard Hein, Conductor

Martin Čičvák, Director

Hans Hoffer, Set Designer

Georges Vafias, Costume Designer

Jan Dörner, Lighting Designer

Prague State Opera Orchestra

Prague State Opera Chorus

Beno Blachut, Dramaturgy

Alžběta Poláčková, Katerina Lvovna Izmailova

František Zahradníček, Boris Timofeyevich Izmailov

Denys Pivnitskyi, Sergey

Josef Moravec, Zinoviy Borisovich Izmailov

Kateřina Jalovcová, Sonyetka

Jan Hnyk, Police inspector

Tamara Morozová, Aksinya

Ivo Hrachovec, Priest

Csaba Kotlár, Policeman

Peter Mikulás, Old Convict

Jan Maria Hájek, Schoolmaster

Jaroslav Březina, Tattered peasant

Prague National Theatre Opera Ballet

Calixto Bieito’s Idomeneo runs out of time in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 28th September

At the Prague State Opera, Calixto Brieito relocates Mozart's opera seria to modern times, with disastrous results.

***11

Reimann's Lear makes for a dark season finale at Prague State Opera

Frank Kuznik, 7th June

Aribert Reimann's Lear takes no prisoners in a disturbing portrayal of a world gone awry, but Barbora Horáková's scattergun direction adds to the confusion.

***11

A politically charged new Manon in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 27th March

Puccini's classic takes on a harsh contemporary edge in a dark treatment by director Sláva Daubnerová at Prague's National Theatre.

****1

A rambunctious Platée revival in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 23rd November

SKUTR's daring direction and Václav Luks's early music expertise combine to bring new vitality to a Baroque classic.

*****

To the apocalypse and beyond: Le Grand Macabre in Prague

David Karlin, 14th June

Nigel Lowery’s new production at Prague State Opera is a gusher of ideas, starting as slapstick but profoundly moving by the end.

****1

Nabucco in Prague: handsome but over-ambitious

Frank Kuznik, 21st March

Andriy Yurkevych leads a rousing musical performance, but this visually impressive Nabucco tries to hard to be relevant and misses the mark.

***11

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.