Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk on GNO TV

Shostakovich’s masterpiece staged by Fanny Ardant

will be available on nationalopera.gr/GNOTV from 23 July 2024

GNO TV enriches its content with one more of the most successful productions of the Greek National Opera of the past years. Following its sold-out performances at the Stavros Niarchos Hall, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk directed by Fanny Ardant will now be available on GNO TV. Dmitri Shostakovich’s masterpiece, conducted by Fabrizio Ventura, will be available on nationalopera.gr/GNOTV from 23 July 2024 to 31 March 2025. GNO TV was established and operates thanks to the support of a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) [www.SNF.org] to enhance the Greek National Opera’s artistic outreach.

The plot of this opera, based on a novella by Nikolai Leskov, centres on the wife of a wealthy merchant, Katerina Ismailova, who feels neglected and trapped in her marriage. She falls in love with one of the workmen at her homestead and, for his sake, ends up murdering both her father-in-law and her husband. Katerina marries her beloved, but when the murders are exposed, the couple is arrested. On the road to Siberia, Katerina gets into a fight with a new potential mistress of her husband and both of them get swept away by the freezing waters of a river.

Dmitri Shostakovich was born in 1906 in Saint Petersburg and ranks among the most important composers of the 20th century. His relationship with the Soviet regime, especially during the Stalinist period, was not an easy one, as his style was not compatible with the official directives on art, leading him to being publicly accused of formalism twice. Before coming to be considered one of the most popular works of the 20th century, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk was censored by the Stalinist regime.

The production is staged by Fanny Ardant, a prominent figure of the French cinema and theatre. Ardant –the star of dozens of films and plays, Truffaut’s muse, Zeffirelli’s and Polanski’s leading lady, and a singular “woman next door” at the side of Depardieu– tackled an opera for the first time, and most successfully so, following a commission by the Greek National Opera. Her bold and poetic staging spotlights such elements as personal freedom and daring, as well as blazing extremes. The director notes: “Lady Macbeth sets a mirror before us. And in it, we see our own selves. Lady Macbeth is our wild reflection, restless and free. (…) I adore the story of Katerina, the Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk district. To me, she is like an icon. I received her as a gift, one that I would now like to offer you all. I said to myself: the era, the politics do not matter. The circumstances, the setting, do not matter. The laws in question do not matter. There will always be those who obey and those who command, those who follow and those who lead, those who wait in line and those who simply leave it behind, one day or another, having waited so long for a violent and true happiness, because the siren song of life is more powerful than all else. And so, I have kept Lady Macbeth in the district of Mtsensk, in her province, in the tsarist Russian Empire, in her habitat – that of the merchants.”

The versatile sets are by the award-winning German set designer Tobias Hoheisel. The costumes have been co-created by two incredible costume designers: Oscar winner Milena Canonero, and Petra Reinhardt, renowned for her work with Robert Carsen. The French Collectif (LA)HORDE (Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel) served as movement coaches, while the lighting was designed by multi-award-winning Italian cinematographer Luca Bigazzi.

The production is conducted by the Italian maestro Fabrizio Ventura, who partnered with the Greek National Opera for the first time.

In the title role is the outstanding Russian soprano Svetlana Sozdateleva, whose singular vocal prowess and stage presence impressed critics and audiences alike. The role of Sergey is sung by the tenor Sergey Semishkur, a soloist at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, while the celebrated Greek bass-baritone Yanni Yannissis portrays Boris.

Performing alongside them are established and emerging soloists from the Greek National Opera, including Yannis Christopoulos, Sophia Kyanidou, Maxim Klonovskiy, George Mattheakakis, Nikos Katsigiannis, Charalambos Velissarios, Panayiotis Priftis, Nicholas Stefanou, Andreas Karaoulis, Vangelis Maniatis, Tassos Apostolou, Petros Magoulas, Marissia Papalexiou, and Maria Mitsopoulou.

Agathangelos Georgakatos conducts the GNO Chorus.

GNO TV at a glance

GNO TV aims to spread the artistic work of the only Greek opera house on a global scale, expanding the concept of artistic outreach. GNO TV targets a global audience interested in the art of opera, given that the artistic identity and quality of GNO productions can compete effectively in the global online opera market. GNO TV was established thanks to the support of a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) [www.SNF.org] to enhance the Greek National Opera’s artistic outreach.

GNO TV provides a wide range of shows, including opera and ballet performances at the Stavros Niarchos Hall, operetta, music theatre, and festivals at the Alternative Stage, spectacles for the whole family, online festivals, and educational programmes.

Performances on GNO TV are broadcast through the global content delivery network Akamai. It is an on-demand platform that allows audiences to watch GNO performances from home, whenever they want and as many times as they like, within a month from the initial screening.

The productions of GNO TV are filmed using a multi-camera system and special direction. They are also accompanied by subtitles in Greek and other foreign languages (English, as well as French or German, where available).

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Dmitri Shostakovich

Opera

Available on GNO TV from 23 July 2024

Conductor: Fabrizio Ventura

Director: Fanny Ardant

Revival director: Ion Kessoulis

Sets: Tobias Hoheisel

Costumes: Milena Canonero, Petra Reinhardt

Movement: Collectif (LA)HORDE – Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel / Movement revival: Nancy Nerantzi, Yiannis Tsigkris

Lighting: Luca Bigazzi / Lighting revival: Dimitris Koutas

Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos

Boris Timofeyevich Ismailov: Yanni Yannissis

Zinovy Borisovich Ismailov: Yannis Christopoulos

Katerina Ismailova: Svetlana Sozdateleva

Sergey: Sergey Semishkur

Aksinya: Sophia Kyanidou

Steward / Policeman / Sergeant: Maxim Klonovskiy

Porter / Guard: George Mattheakakis

First foreman / Drunk guest: Nikos Katsigiannis

Second foreman: Charalambos Velissarios

Third foreman: Panagiotis Priftis

Shabby peasant: Nicholas Stefanou

Coachman / Teacher: Andreas Karaoulis

Messenger / Chief of police: Vangelis Maniatis

Priest: Tassos Apostolou

Old convict: Petros Magoulas

Sonyetka: Marissia Papalexiou

Woman convict: Maria Mitsopoulou

With the Orchestra and Chorus of the GNO

* The production contains nudity.

Greek and English subtitles are available.

French subtitles also available from 25 July 2024.

Tickets priced at 10 euros to watch Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk on GNO TV can be purchased at www.ticketservices.gr or the GNO Box Office (+30 2130885700, open daily from 9.00 to 21.00).

With the 10-euro ticket audience members:

• Can enjoy the show on gr/GNOTV from the comfort of their home, at their convenience, on their computer, iPad, TV, or even cell phone.
• Can watch it as many times as they like within a 30-day period after the initial screening.

The production was filmed in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on 24 and 27 October 2023.

Lead Donor of the GNO & Founding Donor of the GNO TV

THE STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION