Macbeth at La Monnaie in Bruxelles

To close the 2009-2010 season, La Monnaie presents a new production of Verdi’s Macbethconducted by Paul Daniel and directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski.

The British Paul Daniel will conduct the Symphony Orchestra and the Choirs of La Monnaie for the fifth time, after in particular Britten’s Death in Venice in 2009, which achieved great public as well as critical success. At his side will be the stage director Krzysztof Warlikowski whose first production at La Monnaie, Luigi Cherubini’s Médée in 2008, surprised and enthused both the public and the press. He returned at the end of 2009 in a theatre production, (A)Pollonia.

The first Verdi’s works to be inspired by Shakespeare, Macbeth offers unforgettable musical moments: the somber and stifled duo in the first act, the impressive finale of act two, the scene in the witches’ cavern which opens act three, or the terrible sleepwalking scene in act four…. Indeed, this work was one of his favorites. Verdi concentrated the action on the couple Macbeth and on their slow disintegration, giving the dominant role to Lady Macbeth, the driving force of events. In a work so rich in exceptional female characters, Lady Macbeth’s is one of the most intense. Verdi describes her psychological evolution through a surprising musical development, from the conventional form of the first aria to the incredible scene of sleepwalking in the third act.

The soprano Iano Tamar and the American-Dutch Lisa Houben will perform Lady Macbeth in alternance

. Iano Tamar makes her début at La Monnaie in a role that made her known in Milan and Berlin. Lisa Houben has already charmed us as an enthusiastic Donna Leonora in La Forza del Destino.

The American baritone Scott Hendricks makes his début both in the title role of Macbeth and at La Monnaie.
Carlo Colombara will perform the character of Banco. The Italian bass made a noticeable début at La Monnaie in Verdi’s Requiem before reviving the role of Padre Guardiano in La Forza del Destino
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After Werther and L’Enfant Prodigue, the American tenor Andrew Richards returns to La Monnaie for the role of Macduff.
The role of Lady Macbeth’s lady-in-waiting is given to Janny Zomer, a young Flemish singer;Benjamin Bernheim will sing Malcolm, Justin Hopkins Il Servo, Il Medico and Araldo and Gérard Lavalle Il Sicario.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Conductor – Paul Daniel Director – Krzysztof Warlikowski Set designer, costume designer – Małgorzata Szczęśniak Ligthing designer – Felice Ross Video – Denis Guéquin Choirmaster – Martino Faggiani Dramaturgist – Christian Longchamp Choreographer – Saar Magal Orchestre Symphonique de La Monnaie Chœurs de La Monnaie PERFORMANCES | 11, 15, 17°, 19, 22, 25, 29° & 30 June 2010 – 19:30 13 & 27 June 2010 – 15:00 La Monnaie/De Munt

Macbeth – Scott Hendricks Lady Macbeth – Iano Tamar / Lisa Houben° Banco – Carlo Colombara Macduff – Andrew Richards Malcom – Benjamin Bernheim Dama di Lady Macbeth – Janny Zomer Servo / Medico / Araldo – Justin Hopkins Sicario – Gérard Lavalle