When Giuseppe Verdi adapted Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to the operatic stage in the mid-19th century, he had thoughts of making Lady Macbeth a nonsinging role or, perhaps, writing for a voice that was “rough, hollow and stifled,” as he wrote to a colleague. Take it with a grain of salt, for perhaps the composer was just pushing back against the possibility that show-stopping arias would result in “bravas!” and bows, something he may have thought inappropriate for the villainous character.
But Verdi ended up writing some magnificent arias for Lady Macbeth, so much so that Minnesota Opera’s new production of the work could easily bear her name, not her husband’s. Not to take anything away from Greer Grimsley, who is excellent as the title character, but Brenda Harris delivers a tour de force in this dark chiller of a production.
And dark it is, both in story and design. Director Joel Ivany and his creative team offer a world of witches and crows, ominous shadows and whispering spirits. It’s an excellent choice for a spine-tingling tale of a couple that murders its way to the Scottish throne, then struggles with remorse and legendary sleep disorders. And Jason Hand’s lights and Sean Nieuwenhuis’ projections combine to create something seriously spooky.
But none of their wizardry can eclipse the magnificent things that Harris does with the role of Lady Macbeth. She employs a pure, powerful tone from her first contemplations of murdering a monarch to a breathtaking scene of sleepwalking. Her character is the condemned soul of Verdi’s adaptation, and Harris soars at every opportunity, even ascending above the strong-voiced chorus at key moments. Kudos are due conductor Michael Christie for bringing about such a balanced blend.
But Grimsley’s great, too, bringing both fullness and vulnerability to Macbeth, making him a very believable combination of pompous self-confidence and tortured guilt. When Banquo’s ghost appears at a banquet, Grimsley pulls off some exceptional shifts in tone and temperament, the peak of a powerful performance.
While Alfred Walker and Harold Meers also impress as Banquo and Macduff, the other highly compelling portrayal is a group effort. Verdi expanded the three “weird sisters” who prophesy Macbeth’s rise and fall into an expansive coven, and the women of the Minnesota Opera chorus make them a daunting bunch, snaking up and down the Ordway aisles and flapping their capes aggressively. Singing while swarming, they’re almost guaranteed to give you the creeps.
But more chills abound here than in any production of Shakespeare’s troubling tale that I’ve experienced. For that, you can chiefly thank Verdi’s music, but also an orchestra, cast and crew committed to cooking up a cauldron full of menace.
Rob Hubbard can be reached at rhubbard@pioneerpress.com.
What: Minnesota Opera’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Macbeth”
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul
Tickets: $200-$20, available at 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org
Capsule: Brenda Harris’ arias and a dark design make for a chilling nightmare at the opera.
