Macbeth at the Boston Lyric

[jwg]

Last night we went to a splendid production of Macbeth (Verdi) at the Boston Lyric Opera. It was a modern staging and opened with bodies hanging by their feet from the rafters. I thought all the music, singing, staging, and acting was excellent. Lady Macbeth was sung by Carter Scott and she had a big voice, of the kind I don't usually like but it was excellent for this opera. The staging included lowering and raising some large structures toward the rear of the stage - I don't really know what the symbolism was and it wasn't clear to me that it had any value - but it didn't detract from the performance.

It's been a busy week since friday: Contra Dance on Friday night; Siegfried HD on Sat afternoon; Harvest Ball (old style contra dance) on Saturday night; Boston Cecilia with Musica Sacra doing the St Matthew Passion on Sunday afternoon; English Country Dance on Tuesday night; and this last night. (We could go to Concord for the Contra Dance tonight, but won't; then it's the Dance Organizers conference this weekend with Contra Dancing on both Friday and Saturday night; and then to Concord on Monday for a Contra Dance.)

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

--Macbeth, Act V, Scene V

Comments

[come-to-think.livejournal.com]

Goodness! Did they *sing* in that position?

[jwg.livejournal.com]

No-one was singing while lying down (which does happen in some operas) or being suspended by their feet.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

It's probably worth clarifying that the "bodies" hanging by their feet were dummies.

[jss]

They'd have to be to have agreed to hang by their feet and sing upside-down.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I figgered as much.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

Singing upside down- intriguing.