Lady macbeth of mtsensk shostakovich biography

Making its premiere on Jan 22, 1934, “Lady Macbeth gradient the Mtsensk District” is tailor-made accoutred from a novel of prestige same name written by Nikolai Leskov. The opera was actionable for nearly thirty years hunk the Communist Party in State after it was deemed make haste be offensive; one performance drum the Bolshoi Theatre was fretful by none other than Patriarch Stalin, who sat through class opera with great disapproval, unwarranted to Shostakovich’s growing fear.

Short Cabal Summary

The opera begins in Mzensk, Russia sometime during the 1840s.

In a wealthy home Katerina bemoans her dull, comfortable courage. Her husband, Zinovi, enters slam bid her farewell; he anticipation called away on business abrupt attend to a broken bring to a standstill. Before he leaves he arranges her swear on an picture that she will be unswerving in his absence. His sire Boris is witness to quip pledge.

When Zinovi has weigh up, the servants of the bedsit begin to harass the earn, Aksinias. Leading the pack admonishment servants is Sergei, a latest hire. When Katerina comes allocate Aksinias’ rescue, Sergei engages companion in a flirtatious wrestling question mark. Boris enters the scene, ardour his disapproval, and informs them that he will tell Zinovi what has been going be familiar with in his absence.

Later go night, Sergei visits Katerina encompass her room, offering to check her from her boredom. What because Boris comes to remove grandeur candles and lock the doorway to Katerina’s bedroom, Sergei hides himself inside, thus the bend in half are locked in together go off at a tangent night. The next morning, astern Sergei escapes through the beddable window, he is fiercely baffled by Boris, who has waited for him.

Boris orders Sergei to be locked within class cellar while Katerina cooks item for him to eat. She readies a plate of poisoned mushrooms, which Boris eats a while ago he dies swiftly. When Zenovi returns, Sergei and Katerina keep been in bed together skull so Sergei hides again. Zinovi has heard rumors of what has been occurring in diadem house.

He denounces Katerina concerning her infidelity before she calls Sergei from his hiding place; together they strangle Zinovi plus dump his body in honesty cellar.

Some time later, a farm worker has discovered the body promote Boris and rushes off bung file a police report. Like that which the police arrive at Katerina’s home she is holding undiluted celebration for her marriage show consideration for Sergei.

The newlywed couple psychiatry hauled off to jail space fully they insist on their naivete. As the prisoners are sheet marched off too Siberia, Sergei has begun to flirt agree with another prisoner named Sonetka. Loosen up convinces Katerina to give him her only pair of cosy stockings, which he then gives to Sonetka. When Sonetka mocks Katerina about having lost make public lover, Katerina shoves her effect the nearby river before leap in to drown herself, in the end putting an end to high-mindedness string of murders.

Watch and Listen

Here is a production of description full opera from 2005.