A heavy metal Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk in Boston

Kristine Opolais

Kristine Opolais and Günther Groissböck

Alexander Kravets, Andris Nelsons, the Boston Symphony and Tanglewood Festival Chorus

By Kevin Wells, 28 January 2024

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“Opolais'... acting was riveting, colored by her sensitivity to the words”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Boston on 27 January 2024

Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (Concert performance)

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Günther Groissböck, Boris Timofeyevich Izmailov

Peter Hoare, Zinoviy Borisovich Izmailov

Kristine Opolais, Katerina Lvovna Izmailova

Brenden Gunnell, Sergey

Maria Barakova, Sonyetka

Michelle Trainor, Aksinya

Goran Jurić, Priest

Patrick Guetti, Policeman

Sava Vemić, Policeman

Matthew Dibattista, Schoolmaster

Alexander Kravets, Tattered peasant

Anatoli Sivko, Police inspector

Orlando revisited: Olga Neuwirth's Woolf adaptation comes to Berlin

Elena Luporini, 16th May

The German premiere of Olga Neuwirth's Orlando at the Komische Oper cements it as a postmodern grand opéra – for better or for worse.

***11

The Drover's Wife brings Aboriginal Dreaming to opera audiences

Jeremy Eccles, 16th May

Emerging from different incarnations of Leah Purcell’s play, George Palmer’s opera develops traditional Dreaming elements from Aboriginal mythology, premiering in Brisbane.

****1

Nabucodonosor: Riccardo Chailly’s triumphant farewell to La Scala

Laura Servidei, 16th May

Riccardo Chailly’s final new production as artistic director is a celebration of Verdi and of a conductor whose relationship with the Milanese audience has clearly deepened over the years.

*****

Iolanta paired with Luonnotar in dramatic Helsinki double bill

No’a L. bat Miri, 15th May

In Helsinki, Antony McDonald pairs Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with a staged version of Sibelius’ tone poem Luonnotar, brilliantly voiced by soprano Silja Aalto.

*****

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

More reviews...

Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

Heavy metal Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk from Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony