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Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and mysterious...
Review: I found the production very entertaining. Verdi's music is incredible but Thomas Hampson does so much justice that he only makes the opera increasingly magnificent. I was surprised that Ms. Marrocu could still sing after her first number. Her singing was heavy and maybe the role called for it but technically, she must have been tired. Her mad scene was impressive. She performed convincingly. I felt she was very committed to the role. Roberto Scandiuzzi's performance was well done and Luis Lima's performance of Macduff was moving. He really nailed his lamenting for his wife and children. I have to admit that when it came to the chorus the Video director had his favorites in the chorus. He really only focused on a certain few of the members. I caught only glimpses of the some of the other wild witches and desired to see them a little more. Sure, some of the symbolic nature of the production was a little over the top. But it kept you guessing what the message was that was trying to come across. I particularly liked the graffiti costumes of the chorus in the woods toward the end of the final act. It was a great way to show how the people felt about Macbeth's rule. The dirt on the table was kind of an interesting interpretation of getting one's hand dirty but not bad considering the witches really played it up in their cauldron scene and the three spirits were absolutely haunting. Overall, if you enjoy opera, purchase this DVD for your library. It is quite imaginative and amusing.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and mysterious...
Review: I found the production very entertaining. Verdi's music is incredible but Thomas Hampson does so much justice that he only makes the opera increasingly magnificent. I was surprised that Ms. Marrocu could still sing after her first number. Her singing was heavy and maybe the role called for it but technically, she must have been tired. Her mad scene was impressive. She performed convincingly. I felt she was very committed to the role. Roberto Scandiuzzi's performance was well done and Luis Lima's performance of Macduff was moving. He really nailed his lamenting for his wife and children. I have to admit that when it came to the chorus the Video director had his favorites in the chorus. He really only focused on a certain few of the members. I caught only glimpses of the some of the other wild witches and desired to see them a little more. Sure, some of the symbolic nature of the production was a little over the top. But it kept you guessing what the message was that was trying to come across. I particularly liked the graffiti costumes of the chorus in the woods toward the end of the final act. It was a great way to show how the people felt about Macbeth's rule. The dirt on the table was kind of an interesting interpretation of getting one's hand dirty but not bad considering the witches really played it up in their cauldron scene and the three spirits were absolutely haunting. Overall, if you enjoy opera, purchase this DVD for your library. It is quite imaginative and amusing.
Rating: 
Summary: distracting production
Review: I would have to agree with the reviewers who criticised the production of this Macbeth. It is simply so distracting that one cannot focus properly on the performances of the very talented performers. Verdi often complained of singers or even conductors who wanted to "rewrite" his operas. Well, in this "postmodern" era he could also add producers to the list. It's a shame,"vergona".
Rating: 
Summary: Hampson in a Brilliant Galvanizing Macbeth
Review: Let the naysayers say what they want about Hampson being too lightweight for Verdi, I will go out on a limb and say there has probably never been a better Macbeth since Verdi let the ink dry on his opera.
This production from the Opernhaus Zurich is nothing short of amazing. Stefanos Lazaridis has provided a unit set which offers a terrific acting space for David Poutney's mostly telling direction and a cast that believed every gesture and convincingly wore every costume (including a few doozies) Poutney gave them.
Visually, this may be the most satisfying picture I've yet seen on DVD, almost "hyper real" which made the sound, while definitely clear and "real live" sounded a little boxy, like an old recording which has been cleaned up. It doesn't matter for as a whole this show works!
The chorus work was stunning, and although singing as a unified whole, each member seemed a distinct personality and "acted" as intense as the principals. Simply remarkable.
Roberto Scandiuzzi is a singer I've always liked but sounds a little fuzzy these days, but still is a compelling presence and though Banquo. His murder scene was a little odd, with his son Fleance, played by a little child. This was one of the scene's where Poutney went a little too heavy on the direction: Fleance pulls an old-fashioned typewriter out of a hole in the floor, Banquo putting up police posters of . . . I don't know what, war criminals? I didn't quite get some of the symbolism, e.g., Banquo killed by a couple of drag queens . . . etc.
What I did "get" for the first time, was a satisfactory performance from the witches. I'm embarassed to admit this but the witch music has never been spooky enough for this dark, dark opera and I wondered what Verdi had in mind. Well Poutney gives us an enormous chorus of witches of every stripe, elegant, trashy, poor, wealthy looking, cartoon characters all and it works with the music. The importance of the witches and their revelations to Macbeth and his reliance upon it all comes clear as if for the first time (to me, anyway). Lots can be read into it, but what I came away with was the "every woman" as witch, (sorry ladies!) . . . or with that type of power over man.
Heavy on the symbolism list also seemed to be time (and the passing of it) which made itself evident in unusual ways, a beautiful scrim with a clock face, the Macbeth's hairdos (or hair don'ts) as well as news (or its relevance) with corpses wrapped in news print, chorus members in costumes of news print, or graffiti, etc.
It's nice to see Luis Lima's name again, I thought he'd disappeared. He still looks good, and the voice is in good shape, though it's a little pressed and effortful, but his work in this relatively brief assignment is dignified and he brought much to it.
Paoletta Marrocu is a dazzingly, disturbed Lady. Her voice is exciting, distinctive without being what one would call "pretty" - which is certainly to advantage in this role. She has an arsenal of great effects, with spot-on trills which she uses excitingly in her best scene - the drinking song following Banquo's murder. She's first seen on top of the Macbeth Castle - a sort of plexiglass cube, rotated and moved on and off stage as needed, she doesn't "read" the letter, but rather recites it, and we see Macbeth writing it . . . little touches like this added much punch to the drama. Her costume - a send-up of a 70's Halston-style gown - with about 85% of her quite lovely cleavage on display, and, as previously mentioned, early 70's Callas-style hair do make her a striking physical presence. The audience adored her. So do I.
Marrocu's Sleepwalking scene was effectively sung, but a little over the top in direction, but she convinced nonetheless because she looked like she believed it. I did like Poutney's touch of having it played in brilliant, white - almost asylum like brightness and Marrocu was appropriately crazed.
Crazed is just the right word for Hampson's demented performance. Bold, youthful, arrogant at first, you see his Macbeth as one consumed with power and the getting of it. Then, you start watching his human side cracking through the facade and we're left with a multi-layered Macbeth the likes of which I've never seen. No, Hampson doesn't have the heft to match Warren in sound, but what he does bring to the picture is such perfect word-to-music relationship, a belief in every gesture, every word and he sings as much with his eyes as with his voice. His rage and mad fury comes across effectively and never does he sound taxed by the music.
Following the "Vendetta" duet the exhausted, nearly dead Macbeth has been rejuvenated, invigorated, and having had his nails painted, stripped of shoes and socks and put in drag by the witches for a little dance, astride a box, he grabs his lady for a giant kiss and instead gets bitten by her, sending him off again, mad, but in another direction.
Hampson's is almost a painfully beautiful performance, never studied or mannered, as is he is so often accused of. When this Macbeth starts his descent into madness, following Banquo's murder you believe he sees what he he sees. Hampson's work throughout is compelling, thrilling stuff and he left me drained.
Franz Welser Most conducts a musically tight performance with everybody jumping in to give what may be the best performances of their lives.
I can't recommend this high enough!
Rating:
Summary: Well sung and acted-TERRIBLE PRODUCTION!
Review: There is nothing to get in this production, it just stinks, period. All principals performed well with Hampson in the really extraordinary category - I do agree with another reviewer, "he was Mac Beth"! The costumes were so awful that they were distracting throughout. I would have rather seen a concert version than a production this bad. Sorry, I won't be adding this to my collection in spite of the acceptable performances and Hampson's which was superb. The production managed to ruin a wonderful opera. How very, very sad.
Rating:
Summary: Well sung and acted-TERRIBLE PRODUCTION!
Review: There is nothing to get in this production, it just stinks, period. All principals performed well with Hampson in the really extraordinary category - I do agree with another reviewer, "he was Mac Beth"! The costumes were so awful that they were distracting throughout. I would have rather seen a concert version than a production this bad. Sorry, I won't be adding this to my collection in spite of the acceptable performances and Hampson's which was superb. The production managed to ruin a wonderful opera. How very, very sad.
Rating:
Summary: Well sung and acted-TERRIBLE PRODUCTION!
Review: There is nothing to get in this production, it just stinks, period. All principals performed well with Hampson in the really extraordinary category - I do agree with another reviewer, "he was Mac Beth"! The costumes were so awful that they were distracting throughout. I would have rather seen a concert version than a production this bad. Sorry, I won't be adding this to my collection in spite of the acceptable performances and Hampson's which was superb. The production managed to ruin a wonderful opera. How very, very sad.
Rating:
Summary: Cerebral and Sexy
Review: This is one of the most convincing postmodern productions that I've seen. There's no doubt that staging a traditional opera in the manner of this one is controversial on the philosophical level. The visceral and cerebral images that have been added to the opera by this production provide multiple levels of meaning that were not even remotely contemplated by Verdi, and in this case that's done with an intense dedication. One can of course ask in these cases, who are these producers and designers to "add" to the genius of a Verdi or a Wagner? That's a legitimate complaint, which has caused me to defend the traditionalist approach of Otto Schenk (with Wagner)to one who felt it threatened the upsurge of avante garde freedom and creativity. We can be happy that we can see this version of Verdi's Macbeth and be sparked and challenged in one manner and yet watch a more traditional production when that's our feeling.
Dvd and video have especially granted us this freedom. Paoletta Maroccu is a powerful, sexy, and disturbing Lady Macbeth to match the deep and wretched, sod beating masculinity of Hampson in his approach to Macbeth. I almost wish that this "couple for the ages" weren't so often separated by stage devices. It might be argued that the cajoling and predictive company of witches in
their outcast state, as presented, have lost some of their virility. If there's anything truly troubling about this production it's that. Duncan as the golden, feminine, papier mache potentate, however, is a touch of brilliance.
Rating:
Summary: Hampson Rocks!
Review: This production might be distracting, i have to admit. Some links are missed, but The cast is superb here. Hampson has a great voice and gives Macbeth a real image. He's acting is cautivating. Marrocu has that annoying voice that we want to find in Lady Macbeth, and i found in her a great actress, is a real and pleasant discovery. Scandiuzzi has a beautiful voice too, i had the pleasure enjoying his interpretation in this DVD and live in Barcelona. Luis Lima is correct for this minor role of Macduff.
The orchestra sounds kinda small, but correct and well directed by Welser-Most.
The production is awesome. The costumes, the lights. The stage direction is good, i like the transitions between scenes, cause we dont have woods or chambers, but simbolic and geometrical sceneries. One step forward, i like that.
I recommend this one. Try to buy a CD with the complete opera first. Understand what is about, and then try it, will be a great experience.
Rating:
Summary: CONFUSING PRODUCTION
Review: Verdi's Macbeth is a wonderful opera and it is a real pleasure to have another version available on DVD (Sinopoli's being the other); however, this production, to me, was not very satisfying or understandable. Believe me, I'm not one of those Opera Fans that can only appreciate so-called traditional productions of operas. I've enjoyed (and own) many so-called modern presentations of operas. Nevertheless, I really had difficulty understanding all of the symbolism and reasons "for the goings on" in this production--maybe I'm not sophisticated enough to understand. Hopefully, repeated viewings will help me to comprehend what is "going on" and to understand all of the hidden meanings presented. There will DEFINITELY be repeated viewings simply because Thomas Hampson is phenomenal as Macbeth--vocally and physically. The only way I can describe his performance is to use a phrase that has become rather trite--"Hampson IS Macbeth!"
Thomas is simply staggering in this role--vocally he is up to everything Verdi wrote and even though I had difficulty understanding the production, when Hampson was on stage, I really was completely overwhelmed! Now about the lady, as sung and portrayed by Paoletta Marrocu.
I had really looked forward to Marrocu's Lady Macbeth after reading a critic's review that stated she was the best since Callas "took-on" the role. I guess with that kind of build up, there was bound to be a let-down. Paoletta can certainly act the role; however, I was very disappointed with her singing. I know Verdi's Lady is supposed to be sung with an "ugly" sound. However, Callas was able to have you feel the Lady's evilness, but the sound she produced was not simply harsh and ugly as, I feel, Marrocu's singing sounds. I've heard other sopranos sing this role very effectively (Scotto, Sass, Bumbry and Voight, come to mind) and I have immensely enjoyed their singing of the Lady; however, I really could not "get into" Marrocu's rendition of this most vocally difficult of Verdi's heroines. Maybe, it was because, in this production, she has so much to do physically--she's crawling, lifting tables with candles on them and doing everything but standling still for even one moment. (Actually, what I truly feel, is that to me, Paoletta does not have enough voice to be singing the heavy Verdi operas--I know that has become a "broken record" for me. But again, I feel that there simply are not very many sopranos able to, these days, sing most of the Verdi heroines!) Oh well, maybe I'll grow to appreciate her on repeated viewings.
The rest of the cast is very good--Luis Lima (it was a pleasure to hear him again!) and Scanduzzi were outstanding.
The bottom-line of all of the above is don't hesitate to purchase this DVD. Purchase it, first of all, for Thomas' performance, but be prepared for a "little shock" at the production--perhaps all of you are far more sophisticated than I am and will "get it ADDENDUM to the above review:
I was WRONG regarding Paoletta Marrocu's performance in this opera. After, again, listening/viewing this DVD, I was completely "blown-away" by the singing of Paoletta--she DOES possess the voice for the Lady; she is up to everything Verdi wrote and dramatically she is simply awesome. How, indeed, forunate it is that this perfomance is on DVD especially for someone like myself that can rush to quick judgement regarding a performer--my deepest apologies to Ms. Marrocu!
I was NOT wrong about Thomas' performance. After repeated exposures to his Macbeth, I'm even more overwhelmed--he is truly astounding giving one of the best operatic performances I have ever witnessed (I have seen many)
I still do not fully understand the production; however it is really riveting--it keeps your attention through out all of it.
In light of the above I'm changing my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars!
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