Giuseppe Sinopoli’s career was marked by an ability to move convincingly between vastly different styles, though it was in Verdi that he seemed to find his deepest affinity. His interpretations remain grounded in tradition while closely attentive to the text, and he was unafraid to depart from convention when it served the drama.

In this performance of Macbeth, Olivia Stapp proves the vocal standout, delivering a Lady Macbeth that is both agile and dramatically unrestrained. The combination of vocal control and intensity gives the performance much of its electricity. By contrast, Renato Bruson approaches the title role with greater reserve, yet the vocal elegance he brings to Macbeth lends the character an unexpected humanity and sympathy, avoiding the one-dimensionality into which the role can sometimes fall.