Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, composed by Dmitri Shostakovich, is one of the most expensive and long-awaited productions of the Greek National Opera. The opera, directed by Fanny Ardant, fascinates audiences with its great musical variety and dynamic storyline that speaks about the status of women in provincial pre-revolutionary Russia. The libretto, highly critical and deeply moving, starts a revolution, since the protagonist, Lady Macbeth, is a free, unconventional woman who refuses to follow any norms; she becomes enviable and desirable thanks to these characteristics.
Based on a novel by Nikolai Leskov, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is a story about Katerina Izmailova, the wife of a wealthy merchant, who feels neglected and trapped in her marriage; she then finds a lover, and ends up murdering her father-in-law and her husband. On the way to Siberia, Katerina discovers that her lover found a new prospective mistress and during a fight with her, they both get swept away in the freezing waters of the river. Shostakovich, the opera’s composer, was considered to be a musical genius, and despite being deeply influenced by Igor Stravinsky and Gustav Mahler, he managed to shape his own personal and recognizable style.
Fanny Ardant’s direction is sharp and unconventional, turning the spotlight on issues such as boldness, individual freedom, incandescent limitations, and resistance. Lady Macbeth is about a frantic, violent pursuit of happiness and enjoyment, that knows no restrictions!
Performance Dates: 12, 15, 17, 19, 22 May 2019