Water and tragedy collide Alex Ollé's bold new interpretation of Dmitri Shostakovich’s opera. Ten thousand litres of water dominate the stage of the as a symbolic metaphor for the way all of the characters in this powerful opera are implicated in a society riddled with corruption, sexism, and murder. The premiere of 'Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District' on Wednesday featured this novel addition to the stage but it did not distract from a work which tells the dramatic story of its heroine, Katerina Ismailova.
This four-act opera was jointly written by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and Alexander Preys and based on the novel "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" by Nikolai Leskov. Originally set in the 19th century Russia, Katerina is unhappily married to a wealthy merchant, Zynoviv, who neglects her, possibly because he is gay. She dreams of love and a new life far away from the small town where she lives.
Her domineering, macho father-in-law Boris harasses her. So, when she comes across the handsome labourer Sergei, she starts a passionate affair, despite trying at first to resist. Her yearning for freedom drives her to poison her father-in-law using rat poison disguised as a plate of mushrooms.
The plot thickens when her boring husband surprises the lovers, and they kill him too. Rid of the two men who have made her life a misery, Katerina is free to marry Sergei. Or so it seems.
However, the couple’s wedding plans go awry when a drunken guest comes upon the hu.
