ENO, BBC join forces in stunning Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Amanda Majeski (Katerina Izmailova)

Amanda Majeski (Katerina Izmailova) and Nicky Spence (Sergey)

John Storgårds

By Mark Valencia, 03 September 2025

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“Amanda Majeski gave a performance of harrowing depth and power”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 1 September 2025

Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (sung in English with English surtitles)

John Storgårds, Conductor

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

BBC Singers

Amanda Majeski, Katerina Lvovna Izmailova

Brindley Sherratt, Boris Timofeyevich Izmailov

John Findon, Zinoviy Borisovich Izmailov

Nicky Spence, Sergey

Niamh O'Sullivan, Sonyetka

Ava Dodd, Aksinya

William Morgan, Schoolmaster

Ronald Samm, Tattered peasant

Alaric Green, Office Manager

Sir Willard White, Old Convict

Chuma Sijeqa, Police inspector

Thomas Mole, Priest

English National Opera Chorus

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.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

Welsh National Opera’s Dutchman docks in Birmingham

Rohan Shotton, 7th May

This bracing performance of The Flying Dutchman is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary musical standards which are at risk in the face of WNO’s subsidy cuts.

****1

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Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.

ENO, BBC join forces in a musically and emotionally stunning Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk