Macbeth

Dario Argento, who has earned a cult following with glossily bloody horror films such as 1977's Suspiria, makes his opera directing debut in this 2013 Piemonte Opera production of Verdi's first Shakespearean adaptation. Verdi clearly has special meaning for Argento, who drew on the composer's work for his baroque 1987 Opera, a fantasy about a diva trapped in a feverish nightmare of murder and gore. But aside from a few over-the-top touches here, such as portraying the witches as a naked trio gyrating about the stage in a frenzied dance, his staging is surprisingly flat (even the World War I setting counts for little). But, to be fair, no director could have managed much here. After a sluggish start, Giuseppe Sabbatini's conducting improves, but the Piemonte Philharmonic produces a thin, rather ragged sound. And while Giuseppe Altomare is reasonably solid in the title role, Dimitra Theodossiou, as his wife, has a soprano voice that turns into a screech in the highest registers and features a pronounced wobble. The supporting singers are no better than adequate, the chorus is bland, the costumes are nondescript, and the action is presented on a largely bare stage. While this may appeal to Argento fans, Verdi lovers have superior alternatives to choose from, including a 2006 production from the Teatro Regio di Parma (VL-5/13). Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.0 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include an interview with Argento. Optional. (F. Swietek)