Russian performers gave this fine production of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece a compelling authenticity – and ramped up the drama
The tenors come late to Verdi’s bloodbath, but when they do arrive, it’s pretty exciting. Samuel Sakker is all sob and throb in Macduff’s shattering lament, ‘Ah, la paterna mano’, his fleshy breadth of tone almost immediately challenged by the narrower blade of Andrés Presno’s Malcolm. Their Act IV duet is a highlight.
The smaller tenor role given to Malcolm is nicely taken by Andrés Presno, and cameos by Katie Lowe as the lady in waiting and Timothy Dawkins as the doctor are well filled too.
Andri Björn Róbertsson's Superintendent Budd was another brilliantly drawn characterization, finely sung and funny without descending into ridicule.