Saturday 07 November 2020

Autumn's grand opera in Grieghallen is powerful! Verdi loved Shakespeare, especially the story of Macbeth, the King of Scotland, and his fatally ambitious wife. The result was an opera with music that brilliantly describes the play's dark undertones, with its sinister witches, murderous evil and intense emotions. Emanuele Muzio, Verdi's assistant and only pupil, wrote in a letter after the premiere in Florence in 1847: "What a piece of music! I can tell you there are places that will make your hair stand on end!”

THE ACTION
The Scottish royal couple are alarmed by witches' predictions about a new line of kings. Together they hatch a bloody plan to secure their place on the throne. Murderous lust for power is driven inexorably towards an abyss ruled by fate.

The opera's most famous arias include the glowing drinking song aria (brindisi) when the newly crowned couple invites to a party, and not least the famous sleepwalker scene in the last act, where Verdi's tones soften as Lady Macbeth tries in vain to wash away her black conscience.

This new production is directed by Shakespeare connoisseur Lenka Udovicki, and chief conductor Edward Gardner leads the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra himself. The title role is held by the baritone Lester Lynch, who has sung several major roles at Bergen National Opera, among them Iago in Otello, and the diabolical Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd. The soprano Alex Penda, known for her intense interpretations and lyrical voice, has the role of Lady Macbeth.
Giuseppe Verdi / Music
Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei, after a play by Shakespeare / Libretto
Edward Gardner / Conductor
Lenka Udovicki / Direction
Cathrine Ahlsen / Costume design
Ivar Skjørestad / Lighting design
Håkon Matti Skrede / Choirmaster
Lester Lynch / Macbeth
Alex Penda / Lady Macbeth
Marco Spotti / Banco
Matteo Lippi / Macduff
John Olsen / Malcolm
Rita Therese Ziem / Lady Macbeth's Lady of the Court

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Choir
Singers from the Bergen Philharmonic Choir

Premiere 7/11 at 18
Also played on 9/11, 11/11 and 13/11 at 19
Opera in four acts, performed as a stage concert
Sung in Italian, lyrics in Norwegian
Duration approx. 3 hours, including a 30-minute break

Introduction 1 hour before the start of the performance by Gunnar Danbolt 7/11, 11/11 and 13/11, and by Nicolai Riise 9/11

A new production from Bergen National Opera
Presented by the Bergen National Opera and the Harmonien Music Society