Macbeth Premieres in Bolshoi Theater of Belarus

The Bolshoi Theater of Belarus has presented the first opera premiere of the year. Following Aida, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Nabucco Masquerade Ball, the theater has added Macbeth, which is probably the most mystical opera by Giuseppe Verdi, to its repertoire. The country’s main theater ventured into producing its own version of the ‘bloody drama’ in the year when the world celebrates the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, who created the famous story that inspired the composer.

Macbeth was first staged in Teatro della Pergola, Florence in 1847. For more than one and a half centuries, the best opera theaters of the world have been keen to have the story, which combines the talents of Shakespeare and Verdi, in their repertoires.

By the way, the premiere in Belarus is not a debut in its purest sense. Concert versions of Macbeth, without sets and acting, were performed at the Yakub Kolas National Academic Theater in Vitebsk on 2008 and at the Bolshoi Theater on the day of its re-opening after renovations in 2010.

Chief stage director of the Bolshoi Theater Mikhail Pandzhavidze who staged the new production of the opera said that it has not only combined the two versions, but also shifted the audience’s attention to “conscious dramatic acting, hypnotically charming music, and a story that is full of meanings and revelations,” which was of extreme importance for the composer himself.

Musically speaking, Macbeth with its 20-minute virtuoso solo parts and duets is one of the most challenging operas. The Belarusian performers placed a special emphasis on flawless singing from the start of the play till its last seconds. The main parts in the play are performed by Belarusian artists. King Macbeth is excellently portrayed by People’s Artist of Belarus Vladimir Petrov, Honored Artist of Belarus Vladimir Gromov and Stanislav Trifonov (all baritones). The Lady, a magnificent soprano, is performed by People’s Artist of Belarus Nina Sharubina, holder of the Francysk Skorina Medal Tatiana Tretyak, and winner of international competitions Lyubov Petrova.

The three Shakespeare's witches, a novelty in the Belarusian production by Mikhail Pandzhavidze, play a special part as they personify evil. The witches are embodied by dancers and supported by a powerful women’s choir. A particularly strong impression is produced by the set design featuring a dark medieval castle, an unusual spider web curtain which seems to wrap Macbeth’s castle little by little, and more than 250 costumes made for the actors involved in the production.

The new production of Macbeth was staged by the leading specialists of the Bolshoi Theater, including chief conductor and Honored Artist of Ukraine Viktor Ploskina, art director Alexander Kostyuchenko, choirmaster and People’s Artist of Belarus Nina Lomanovich, choreographers Yulia Dyatko and Konstantin Kuznetsov.

Best photos from the premiere of Macbeth at the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus in our photo gallery...

Photo: Oksana Manchuk

In pucture: People’s Artists of Belarus Nina Sharubina and Vladimir Petrov perform the main roles