Macbeth Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
"...Francesco Milioto leads a fine, 36-member orchestra (drawn from the Chicago Sinfonietta) with an alert, decisive hand, while the Apollo Chorus sings robustly. Several of the supporting singers assume multiple roles. Brittany Loewen, Helen Wyatt and Cassidy Smith of COT's Young Artists Program make lively witches. Joe Shadday excels as Banquo, Duncan, Malcolm and several unnamed characters. Paul Scholten makes the most of Macduff's brief time on stage."
Stage and Cinema- Recommended
"...Andre Mitisek's concentrated staging is played against a constricted set, with a long, revolving table center stage, white curtains on the side, and the all-showing video backdrop churning changing vistas in the back. Suitably ramped up by conductor Francesco Milioto leading the Chicago Sinfonietta and the huge Apollo Chorus (both performing off stage), Bloch's foreboding and portentous score reflects every dark passage in Shakespeare's saga of serial slaughter. Soaring but seldom sweet, the score varies only in intensity, its default drive being a somber and gloomy song set, as sepulchral as Wagner on a bad night. In contrast, Verdi's infinitely more melodic Macbeth comes from a different universe as well as century."
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
"...As beautiful as their voices are, these are not subtle movement-based actors, and at times the effect can seem downright cheesy. It was argued in the news covering this first-of-its-kind attempt that this kind of camera action let's everyone see facial expressions normally reserved for the first few rows. I would argue that adding hi-def movie-style projections for this kind of expressionistic effect actually detracts. Similar arguments get made about hi-def television-letting the audience see that much actually subverts the emotional intensity by creating too much detail where vagueness would be better. Its only truly effective use is when the camera is stationary looking down from above, providing a dizzying view that no audience member could achieve."
Chicago Stage and Screen- Highly Recommended
"...Ernst Bloch's 1906 opera is a stripped down version of Shakespeare's original, borrowing much of its lyrics directly from the Bard. As always, Chicago Opera Theater has found a cast that can embody the characters as well as navigate the sometimes tricky vocal lines. With a lush and powerful chorus lending support and propelling the musically powerful finale, COT captures much of the passion and lyricism of this rarely produced opera and provides a good argument for its inclusion in the cannon."