Covent Garden’s Macbeth is back in all its bloody glory
“In the pit Daniele Rustioni conducted a scrupulous account of the score. Early Verdi is notoriously tricky to get right – in the wrong hands the orchestral accompaniments can sound banal and trite – yet the Italian maestro succeeded in making the score sound fresh, vivid, and inventive. Balance between stage and pit was impeccable, and the orchestra responded with attentive, beautifully sculpted playing. The rumour factory has been in overdrive recently as to who will succeed musical director Antonio Pappano when he steps down in 2024. Rustioni’s name keeps coming up as a potential successor – and if this was his pitch for the top job, he will surely have passed with flying colours.”
musicOMH, Keith McDonnell