Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Is Feb. 25, 2023, Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is the Feb. 25, 2023, Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as 10th of the 2022-2023 season's 24 Saturday radio broadcasts.

Svetlana Sozdateleva made her Met Opera debut in the 2022-2023 season's third revival of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk as battered, lonely, unfulfilled Katerina Ismailova, whose sudden, passionate affair impels her to two murders, to a Siberian penal labor convey and to icy drowning with her lover's newest seductee, convict Sonyetka; third revival stage direction by Paula Suozzai, costumes and sets by Paul Brown, lighting by Nick Chelton, choreography by Ron Howell: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Oct. 12, 2022

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Dmitri Shostakovich is the Feb. 25, 2023, Saturday matinee broadcast, airing at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, as the 10th of the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Russian composer, librettist and pianist Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (Russian: Дмитрий Дмитриевич Шостакович; Sep. 25, 1906-Aug. 9, 1975) set Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Russian: Леди Макбет Мценского уезда, "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District") to a Russian libretto that he co-wrote with Russian librettist and playwright Alexander Germanovich Preis (Russian: Алекса́ндр Ге́рманович Прейс; Dec. 5, 1905–April 14, 1942). They based their libretto upon Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (Russian: Леди Макбет Мценского уезда) by Russian journalist, playwright, short-story writer and novelist Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov (Russian: Никола́й Семёнович Леско́в; Feb. 16 [O.S. Feb. 4], 1831-March 5 March [O.S. Feb. 21], 1895). Leskov's novella appeared in the January 1865 of Epoch (Russian: Эпо́ха), a Russian monthly literary magazine published from March 1864 to February 1865 by Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (Russian: Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский; Nov. 11, 1821-Feb. 9, 1881) and his older brother, Russian literary critic, publisher and writer Mikhail Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (Russian: Михаил Михайлович Достоевский; Nov. 25, 1820-July 22, 1864).

The world premiere of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk took place Monday, Jan. 22, 1934, at Leningrad State Academic Maly Opera Theatre (Russian: Ленингра́д Государственный академический Малый оперный театр), nicknamed MALEGOT (МАЛЕГОТ), 1, Arts Square (Russian: площадь Искусств), in Leningrad (Russian: Ленингра́д), name officially reverted Friday, Sep. 6, 1991, to original name of Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербург). The theatre's founding was decreed in 1833 by Russian Emperor Nicolas I (Nikolaï Pavlovitch Romanov; Russian: Николай Павлович Романов; July 6, 1796-March 2, 1855), whose reign had begun Dec. 1, 1825. The theatre's current name of The St Petersburg Mussorgsky State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre—Mikhailovsky Theatre merges the 1991 official name with the theatre's original 1883 name, Mikhailovsky Theatre.

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk took place Thursday, Nov. 10, 1994. The opera received nine performances in its premiere season.

James Conlon conducted all nine performances in the opera's premiere season at the Metropolitan Opera. The American conductor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Dec. 11, 1976, in the opera company's 207th performance of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

English opera director Sir Graham Vick (Dec. 30, 1953-July 17, 2021) directed the opera's premiere season production. The opera's premiere production team comprised British costume and production designer Paul Brown (May 13, 1960-Nov. 13, 2017); British lighting designer Nick Chelton; and British choreographer Ron Howell. The production's director and his team all made their Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 10, 1994, in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk's Metropolitan Opera Premiere.

The first revival of Sir Graham's production took place in spring in the 1999-2000 season. Six performances were offered.

The second revival of the Vick production was held in autumn in the 2014-2015 season. The second revival received six performances.

Shostakovich's reminiscently Shakespearean titled, tormentous opera appeared on the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's autumn roster as the opera's third revival. Paula Suozzi was credited as the third revival's stage director. The American opera director has been affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera since her initial position as Assistant Stage Director in December 1992 and her current position as Executive Stage Director since August 2017, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk received six performances in the 2022-2023 season. The third revival opened Thursday, Sep. 29, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The second through sixth, closing performances were offered Sunday, Oct. 2, at 3:00 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 7, at 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 15, at 12:00 noon; and Friday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.. The Feb. 25, 2023, Saturday matinee broadcast replays one of the opera's autumn performances.

Keri-Lynn Wilson conducted all six of the third revival's performances. The Canadian operatic and symphonic conductor made her Met Opera debut in the third revival's opening night.

Svetlana Sozdateleva appeared in all six performances in the title role of Katerina Ismailova, a lonely wife whose affair with Sergei, one of her husband's employees, impels her to commit two murders. The Russian soprano made her Met Opera debut in the third revival's opening night.

Brandon Jovanovich sang in all six performances as womanizing Sergei, whose affair leads him to help his employer's wife kill his employer. His appearances in the third revival marked his first reprisal of the role of Sergei, which he had added to his Met Opera portfolio with his portrayals in the second revival's first through third and fifth through sixth, closing performances in the 2014-2015 season. The American operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, as Don José in the opera company's 952nd performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Nikolai Schukoff appeared in all six performances as Zinovy Ismailov, Katerina's wife-beating husband. The Austrian operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, as Don José in the opera company's 979th performance of Bizet's Carmen.

John Relyea appeared in all six performances as Boris Ismailov, Katerina's father-in-law, whose love for mushrooms facilitates his fatal poisoning by his daughter-in-law. The Canadian operatic bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000, as Alidoro in the opera company's 13th performance of La Cenerentola by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868).

Maria Barakova appeared in all six performances as Sonyetka, a convict in a Siberian-destined convoy with Katerina and Sergei, whom Sergei targets for seduction and who dies with Katerina in their plunge into an icy river. The Russian mezzo-soprano's appearance in the third revival's opening night marked her Met Opera debut.

Felicia Moore appeared in all six performances as Aksinya, an Ismailov employee who apprises Katerina of Sergei's seductiveness. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, as the First Lady in the opera company's 460th performance of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.

Rodell Rosel appeared in all six performances as a Shabby Peasant. The Filipino tenor had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, as Valzacchi in the opera company’s 370th performance of Der Rosenkavalier by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sep. 8, 1949).

Goran Jurić appeared in all six performances as the Priest. The Croatian bass made his Met Opera debut in the priestly role in the third revival's opening night, Thursday, Sep. 29.

Alexey Shishlyaev appeared in all six performances as the Police Sergeant. The Russian bass-baritone's appearance in the third revival's opening night marked his Met Opera debut.

Alexander Tsymbalyuk sang an Old Convict in all six performances. The Ukrainian bass had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, as Ferrando in the opera house's 615th performance of Il Trovatore by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts pauses Saturday, March 4, for a special feature. "Listeners’ Choice: Great Met Broadcasts" broadcasts at 1:00 p.m.

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's Saturday matinee opera broadcasts resume one week later. La Traviata by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901) airs March 11 at 1:00 p.m. as the 11th of the season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Svetlana Sozdateleva sang passion-driven double murderess Katerina Ismailova to Brandon Jovanovich's seduction-oriented co-murderer Sergei in the 2022-2023 season's third revival Sir Graham Vick's new production for the 1994-1995 season's Metropolitan Opera premiere of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk; third revival stage direction by Paula Suozzai, costumes and sets by Paul Brown, lighting by Nick Chelton, choreography by Ron Howell: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Sep. 30, 2022

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Svetlana Sozdateleva made her Met Opera debut in the 2022-2023 season's third revival of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk as battered, lonely, unfulfilled Katerina Ismailova, whose sudden, passionate affair impels her to two murders, to a Siberian penal labor convey and to icy drowning with her lover's newest seductee, convict Sonyetka; third revival stage direction by Paula Suozzai, costumes and sets by Paul Brown, lighting by Nick Chelton, choreography by Ron Howell: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Oct. 12, 2022, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02VPSbgDReCxgxERZrRxkYGodKhBmPJnrLAAieBGfhHoPE2UW2b1d9ttaRQLWspHqol

Svetlana Sozdateleva sang passion-driven double murderess Katerina Ismailova to Brandon Jovanovich's seduction-oriented co-murderer Sergei in the 2022-2023 season's third revival Sir Graham Vick's new production for the 1994-1995 season's Metropolitan Opera premiere of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk; third revival stage direction by Paula Suozzai, costumes and sets by Paul Brown, lighting by Nick Chelton, choreography by Ron Howell: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Sep. 30, 2022, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02QaxRXQrLs6DynbsYM8wzWg4W6vfCFBiXU3ABhnhdiVQgH5dyBfuWkCV8Me9wxYYCl

For further information:

“Debut: Miah Persson, Rodell Rosel, Nicholas Crawford.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353112 Der Rosenkavalier {370} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/13/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353112

"Debuts: Alain Altinoglu, Brandon Jovanovich." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353331 Carmen {952} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/27/2010. (Debuts: Alain Altinoglu, Brandon Jovanovich) Metropolitan Opera House January 27, 2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353331

“Debuts: Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Renée Tatum.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352873 Il Trovatore {615} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/26/2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352873

"Debuts: Felicia Moore, Ashraf Sewailam." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357525 Die Zauberflöte {460} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/10/2021, Broadcast/Streamed. (Debuts: Felicia Moore, Ashraf Sewailam Broadcast/Streamed) Metropolitan Opera House December 10, 2021 Broadcast/Streamed. Abridged version in English.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357525

"Debuts: James Conlon, Sheila Nadler, Peter Fekula, Adam Guettel, Adam Hyman." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 247660 Die Zauberflöte {207} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/11/1976. (Debuts: James Conlon, Sheila Nadler, Peter Fekula, Adam Guettel, Adam Hyman Review). Metropolitan Opera House. December 11, 1976.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=247660

"Debuts: John Relyea, Bruno Campanella." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 332447 La Cenerentola {13} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/24/2000.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=332447

"Debuts: Keri-Lynn Wilson, Svetlana Sozdateleva, Goran Jurić, Alexey Shishlyaev, Maria Barakova, Irina Rindzuner." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357698 Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk {22} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/29/2022, Broadcast (Debuts: Keri-Lynn Wilson, Svetlana Sozdateleva, Goran Jurić, Alexey Shishlyaev, Maria Barakova, Irina Rindzuner Broadcast) Metropolitan Opera House September 29, 2022.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357698

"Debuts: Nicolai Schukoff, Marco Nisticò." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354848 Carmen {979} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/09/2013. (Debuts: Nicolai Schukoff, Marco Nisticò) Metropolitan Opera House February 9, 2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354848

"Debuts: Vladimir Galouzine, Dennis Petersen, Vladimir Ognovenko, John Russell, Alexander Anisimov, Graham Vick, Paul Brown, Nick Chelton, Ron Howell." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 318440 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/10/1994. (Metropolitan Opera Premiere) (Debuts: Vladimir Galouzine, Dennis Petersen, Vladimir Ognovenko, John Russell, Alexander Anisimov, Graham Vick, Paul Brown, Nick Chelton, Ron Howell Review). Metropolitan Opera House November 10, 1994. Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=318440

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera's 2022-2023 Season Has 24 Saturday Matinee Opera Broadcasts." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/met-operas-2022-2023-season-has-24.html

The Metropolitan Opera. "A recent article by The New York Times declared the extraordinary start to our 2022–23 season 'a Met Opera week to remember' led by 'a trio of dangerous women.' The review considers our productions of Cherubini’s Medea, Mozart’s Idomeneo, and Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk 'three of opera’s most memorable scores . . . all performed with care and passion,' giving high praise for vivid staging, unrivaled singing, choral grandeur, and exceptional conducting. Read the full article below. Explore the 2022–23 season: bit.ly/3MU96ty https://nyti.ms/3UTzp8A." Facebook. Sep. 30, 2022.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02QaxRXQrLs6DynbsYM8wzWg4W6vfCFBiXU3ABhnhdiVQgH5dyBfuWkCV8Me9wxYYCl

The Metropolitan Opera. "Tonight, October 12, at 7PM, Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk returns to the stage! Can’t join us at the opera house? Tune in to SiriusXM channel 355 or visit bit.ly/3N6VJ9H at 6:55PM for a free audio broadcast! With only three performances left, you won’t want to miss this colorful tale of love, lust, betrayal, and murder, featuring soprano Svetlana Sozdateleva, tenors Brandon Jovanovich and Nikolai Schukoff, and bass-baritone John Relyea. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts Graham Vick’s vivid production. Purchase tickets: bit.ly/3y33WYh. Listen to the Met: bit.ly/3AaOE4Q Photo by Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera." Facebook. Oct. 12, 2022.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02VPSbgDReCxgxERZrRxkYGodKhBmPJnrLAAieBGfhHoPE2UW2b1d9ttaRQLWspHqol

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 318440 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/10/1994. (Metropolitan Opera Premiere) (Debuts: Vladimir Galouzine, Dennis Petersen, Vladimir Ognovenko, John Russell, Alexander Anisimov, Graham Vick, Paul Brown, Nick Chelton, Ron Howell Review). Metropolitan Opera House November 10, 1994. Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=318440

Mikhailovsky Theatre. "History." Mikhailovsky Theatre > Theatre > History.
Available @ https://mikhailovsky.ru/en/theatre/history/

Suozzi, Paula. "Paula Suozzi." LinkedIn.
Available via LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-suozzi-9840106