Cristina Deutekom - Macbeth (live)

Cristina Deutekom (Lady Macbeth) sings the Letter Scene from Verdi's Macbeth. Newark 1982, live.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Cristina
• Deutekom
• Macbeth
• letter
• scene
• live
• 1982
• Newark

[assindiastignani]

I was in this performance - the Macbeth was Sherill Milnes and the conductor was Silipigni. Deutekom had just learned the role so these were her first Lady's. This is a role that a soprano needs to sing nine or ten times at least before she knows exactly how to pace herself. It is like Abigaille, but also completely different. The instrumentation is different, darker and denser and places much more strain on the lower octave of the voice. Still, who sings it like this nowadays??!!!

[RandomOperaGuy11]

And see, I find her voice quite lovely. I guess it's just a difference in opinion. I think that the piercing quality in her voice gave her the capability to sing Lady. It just sort gives a cold, chilling feeling. At least in my opinion.

[opera1dan2]

@opera1dan2 Good point.

[opera1dan2]

Wow - wonderful performance. What a finish!!!!! Brava

[Figaro48]

I was in the chorus when she sang this MACBETH and also LUCIA around the same time in Newark and Trenton. She was unique and unforgettable but also a very down to earth person with a good since of humor. She had us laughing during a rehearsal of the banquet scene. Her way with certain phrases will live in my ear forever. So great to hear her again.

[robertdonkers]

@assindiastignani Sylvia Valayre

[assindiastignani]

@tetrazzinifan To be fair, it was her very first Lady M.; she had just learned it. But you are absolutely right abt. Abigaille and Lady M. People always lump them together, but they are very different.They lie differently. Lady M. is longer and hammers away more at the middle and lower middle voice, then all of a sudden goes way up. Also the orchestration is much denser with a greater emphasis on the lower strings and woodwinds. The color of the voice has to be different from Abigaille.

[assindiastignani]

@lallanzinho The great Lady Macbeths - Birgit Nilsson, Ghena Dimitrova, Mara Zampieri, Leonie Rysanek, Shirley Verrett, Grace Bumbry, et.al. sang it even more often than that.

[lallanzinho]

@assindiastignani I was wondering about any singer who was still able to sing Lady Macbeth after "nine or ten times" and then sing anything else. I think to sing this role "twice" is enough to make a major achievement.

[down8here]

@KaiVanMaaren there is a record on youtube of her singinh sempre libera

[jrtrmish]

This is not a role for her--or for most sopranos who undertake it. Listen to Shirley Verrett's interpretation and you'll never want to hear another. A Lady Macbeth for all seasons. Deutekom here is just too painful to listen to.

[robertdonkers]

I am glad we both admire this great singer.