Yesterday evening director, Barbara Gaines and conductor Renato Palumbo spoke to the Institute’s audience about Lyric Opera’s current production of Verdi’s Macbeth. The discussion was moderated by Speranza Scappucci. After a brilliant introduction by vocal coach Scappucci, Palumbo told many interesting and somewhat amusing details concerning the history of the composition of the tragedy by Verdi while Gaines talked about her first lucky experience as an opera director, insisting on the difference between working with actors and singers and declaring her immense and quite unexpected appreciation for the play.
Both Palumbo and Gaines confessed to be highly satisfied with the outcome of their collaboration and were glad to answer the numerous questions and curiosities of the audience.
The Institute reminds you that two movies concerning Macbeth will be screened soon:
- Tue, Oct 12, at 5 pm, “Macbeth” (1987) by Claude. It brings Verdi’s celebrated opera to life with superb musical performances. Conducted by Riccardo Chailly, the exceptional cast features singers of the highest caliber: Leo Nucci performs Macbeth and Shirley Verrett takes on the role of Lady Macbeth.
- Tue, Oct 28, at 5.30 pm, “Opera” (1987) by Dario Argento. A young opera singer named Betty gets her big break when the previous star of a production of Verdi's Macbeth is run over by a car. Alas, she becomes the target of a psychopath while working on the production and her big break becomes a curse. Opera is considered by many to be the last of Argento's masterpiece horror films, and it was included in the book 100 Greatest Horror Films You've Never Seen.