fyglia

At first glance, the title of Shostakovich’s opera seems to speak for itself: Katherina, neglected and unhappy in her marriage, commits the most heinous crime just like the Shakespearian Lady Macbeth. But Nikolai Leskov’s short novel, which portrays Katherina as a monster, was only the starting point for Shostakovich to elicit understanding for an oppressed woman whose pursuit for self-determination is suppressed by society. Through combining satiric, grotesque and tragic elements in his music, Shostakovich succeeds in striking the balance between repulsion at Katherina’s immoral acts and sympathy for her. Violence, eroticism and the paralysing boredom of Russian society in the 19th century are the founding elements of this composition. The choir and orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino conducted by James Conlon accompany tremendous soloists such as Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet, Vladimir Vaneev and Vsevolod Grivnov in the original language in this live recording.



CAST
Boris Izmailov – Vladimir Vaneev
Zinoviy Izmailov – Vsevolod Grivnov
Katerina Izmailova – Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet
Sergei – Sergej Kunaev
Aksinya – Nanà Miriani
Priest – Julian Rodescu
Tattered peasant – Leonid Bomstein
Police Inspector – Vladimir Matorin
Sonetka – Natascha Petrinsky

Fiorentino Maggio Musicale Chorus and Orchestra
(chorus master: Piero Monti)
James Conlon, conductor

Lev Dodin, stage director
David Borovsky, set and costume design

REVIEWS

"Collectors with an interest in Soviet music should not hesitate to acquire this marvelous production." Stephen Habington, The Stained Glass Room, Januar 2010

"[…] James Conlon has become increasingly impressive as a conductor, and his work here is superb.[…] Orchestral balances are excellent: he gives welcome prominence to the woodwinds (who play with an impressive tangy sound) and he etches the counterpoint clearly throughout." Fanfare, März/April 2010

"All of the singers are excellent actors […]. Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet, a highly skilled actress communicates Katerina's sullen hostility in the early scenes and, later, her deep emotion for the despicable Sergei." Opera News, Februar 2010

Works on This Recording
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk district, Op. 29 by Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer: Vladimir Matorin (Bass), Leonid Bomstein (Tenor), Julian Rodescu (Bass), Nana Miriani (Voice), Jeanne-Michele Charbonnet (Soprano), Sergei Kunaev (Voice), Vladimir Vaneev (Bass), Vsevolod Grivnov (Tenor), Natascha Petrinsky (Soprano)
Conductor: James Conlon
Orchestra/Ensemble: Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra, Florence Maggio Musicale Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1930-1932; USSR
Date of Recording: 2008
Venue: Teatro Comunale Firenze