Lady Macbeth at Mtsensk

Synopsis: The last episode in a series on works by Shostakovich which were influenced by Stalin’s rule. Peter Maniura presents a recording of the award-winning Royal Opera House production by Richard Jones. With Eva-Maria Wetbroak in the title role and Christopher Ventris as Sergey. The Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra is conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Series: Forbidden Shostakovich
Language: Russian
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Television
Transmission details: 11 Nov 2006 at 19:00 (Channel: BBC4)
Duration: 180 mins

Director

Richard Jones

Cinematographer

Mimi Jordan Sherin

Music

Dmitri Shostakovich

Production Design

John F. Macfarlane

Costume

Nicky Gillibrand

Choreographer

Linda Dobell

Contributor

Antonio Pappano; Peter Maniura

Cast

Eva-Maria Westbroek	Katerina Ismailova (Lady Macbeth)
Andrew Stritheran	Second Workman
Andrew Stritheran	Coachman
Carole Wilson	Aksinya
Christine Rice	Sonyetka
Christopher Lackner	Mill Hand
Christopher Ventris	Sergey
Gwynne Howell	Old Convict
John Bernays	Sergeant
John Daszack	Zinoy Ismailova
John Tomlinson	Boris Ismailov
Jonathan Fisher	Porter
Krysztof Szumanski	Steward
Krysztof Szumanski	Sentry
Maxim Mikhailov	Priest
Miriam Murphy	Female Convict
Nikola Matisic	Teacher
Peter Bronder	Drunken Guest
Roderick Earle	Police Inspector
Thomas Barnard	Policeman

Notes: Sung in Russian with English surtitles.

The cast list given for this entry is based on the information provided by the Royal Opera House programme information for that season (2006/7).
General: Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Shostakovich’s opera in four acts is based on the novella of the same title, written by Nikolai Leskov in 1864/1865. The opera was first performed on 22 January 1934 at the Leningrad Maly Theatre to great acclaim.
Despite its success, the Communist Party under Stalin ordered it to be withdrawn from the stage in 1936. In the Soviet Union the opera was banned for almost thirty years.
History: The five-part series ‘Forbidden Shostakovich’ was broadcast on the digital channel BBC4 to mark the centenary of the composer’s birth.
Awards: Olivier Award for Best Opera when first staged in 2004

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