It is now believed that when Verdi said he wanted an “ugly voice” for Lady Macbeth he was overstating his case: what he did not want was a pretty voice coming from a poor actress. Yes, the sound should be complex enough to take the Lady’s demonic characteristics into account, but let’s face it, nobody really wants to hear an ugly voice do anything.
If you don’t believe me, please listen to this newly released recording of Macbeth from the 2007 Sferisterio Opera Festival in Macerata. The performance is excitingly led by Daniele Callegari, and the principals are nothing if not engaged and passionate about what they are doing. But Olha Zhuravel, for all her commitment, sings a Lady Macbeth that is so wobbly that it goes beyond vibrato: some notes are close to a half-tone away from where they should remain, and it isn’t only the high, loud ones. She can’t keep the pitch anywhere throughout her range, and the sound itself is enough to give children nightmares. And so it doesn’t really matter how vivid she is: she’s very hard to listen to.
Giuseppe Altomare, a baritone new to me, has a rather woolly sound, but it is expressive, he sings off the text, and he rightly makes us hang on every one of Macbeth’s words. His final aria is deeply felt and very well sung. Bass Pavel Kudinov is a fine Banco, with handsome legato in his aria; Rubens Pelizzari’s Macduff is too rough and noisy to be effective.
The orchestra plays well enough, save a brass blooper or two, and the chorus is quite good, although the women sound stressed. This is an unnecessary recording; the Verrett/Cappuccilli recording on DG is easily available, as is the Warren/Rysanek on RCA.
