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    CultureMap Video

    Mad Max, Poltergeist and Shakespeare merge: Opera in the Heights embraces the supernatural

    Joel Luks
    Jan 31, 2013 | 1:36 pm
    Mad Max, Poltergeist and Shakespeare merge: Opera in the Heights embraces the supernatural
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    It's quite possible that Giuseppe Verdi didn't understand one word of William Shakespeare's Macbeth when he saw it for the first time. Scholars say that the Italian Romantic composer wasn't an anglophone, yet the language barrier wasn't an obstacle when Verdi decided to rework the English text into Italian lyrics.

     

    Some call the theater-to-opera process a translation, an adaptation, a transcription, an arrangement or an interpretation, and argue over semantics as to what best describes the formal act of taking a masterpiece from one genre to another. While theater allows for more dialogue and more storytelling than opera, the tuneful medium has the prowess to illustrate motivations that may lay hidden within the written verse, including meaning whose cultural significance may be eroded due to the passing of time.

     

     Macbeth was Verdi's first attempt at a Shakespearean work. Ernest Bloch, Dmitri Shostakovich, Antonio Bibalo and Salvatore Sciarrino, who wrote his Macbeth in 2002, have their own versions, but none are known, performed and revered as much as Verdi's setting.

     

    When Opera in the Heights artistic director Enrique Carreón-Robledo announced the company's 2012-13 season, his desire was to focus exclusively on compositions mused by Shakespeare's works, among them Rossini's Otello, Bellini's I Capuleti e I Montecchi and Verdi's Falstaff, the latter set for April 25 to May 5.

     

     Macbeth opens Thursday night and runs through Feb. 10 at Lambert Hall with alternating casts for the leading roles.

     

     Mad Max, I Love Lucy and Poltergeist

     

    "How can you produce opera inspired by Shakespeare and at the same time go as far as you can away from Shakespeare?" Carreón-Robledo asked himself when planning for Macbeth.

     

     

      "As a joke I say that Lady Macbeth was probably not popular in high school. It's fun to try on something that's so far from your own personality."

     
     

    With his creative team, including set designer Rachel Smith, costume designer Dena Scheh, stage director Lynda Keith McKnight, production stage manager Jennifer Kelley and lighting designer Kevin Taylor, the collective vision was to transport the psychological, murderous, Scottish thriller to a milieu that's both familiar and fantastical in today's zeitgeist, while retaining the crux that tickled the respective imaginations of the Bard of Avon and Peppino, the nickname Italians use for Verdi.

     

    The balance of tradition and innovation, of something expected and something fresh, shifts the locus to a post-apocalyptic dystopian wasteland with characterization reminiscent of Mad Max. Think militia outfits, leather, modern weaponry and decaying technology amid sinister trees that eventually reveal the prophetic promises of a throng of witches, humorously depicted in stylized, radioactive-colored mid-century I Love Lucy wife attire. The ghost Banquo appears on the screens of scattered obsolete televisions a la Poltergeist.

     

    It's in this stage that the story of power and corruption unfolds.

     

    Verdi chose to reduce the characters for the opera while honing in on the relationship between Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and, in lieu of the trio of sorceresses in the play, a chorus of witches that has been compared to a Greek chorus, one that offers commentary on the narrative. However, the setup seems more aligned with the fairies of A Midsummer Night's Dream, whose supernatural world exploits and fiddles with the fate and destiny of the mortals.

     

    From Verdi's correspondence with the librettist, Francesco Maria Piave, academics have gleaned that the connection between Lady Macbeth and the witches is what endows the protagonist with her wicked compulsion.

     

     The power hungry couple

     
     

    On stage, Emily Newton is a provocateur, a temptress who's intoxicated by a desire for power.

     
     

    In everyday life, Lake Jackson-native, soprano Emily Newton, 33, who starred in Opera in the Heights' production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena last year, exudes none of the conniving qualities of her title role. Newton is an easy-going, happy-go-lucky gal with a charming smile and genteel spirit. But on stage, she's a provocateur, a temptress who's intoxicated by a desire for power.

     

    "As a joke I say that Lady Macbeth was probably not popular in high school," Newton quips. "It's fun to try on something that's so far from your own personality."

     

    Lady Macbeth was attracted to Macbeth because he was a warrior, Newtown says. In the 1600s there were less opportunities for women to achieve status on their own. Lady Macbeth saw in her husband her path to power. That's why she manipulates him, pushes him and scorns him when he exhibits signs of weakness.

     

    "Lady Macbeth is human, but a little less human than Macbeth because of her tie with the witches," Newton continues. "That's important; there's a parallel there. But you do see the humanity in both of them in their frailty of mind with the deeds they have committed. They do suffer from guilt and other things that truly dyed-in-the-wool, purely evil people do not feel — including remorse."

     

    Portraying the humanity in these archetypal characters is a key element for baritone Andrew Cummings, 38, who first appeared with Opera in the Heights' Il Trovatore in March of last year.

     

    "In order to make Macbeth compelling, he really needs to come across as a complete human," Cummings explains. "He doesn't want just unadulterated ambition. There's a lot of elastic motion in the different dimensions of his personality. That makes him incredibly intriguing."

     
     

      "If Shakespeare had a chance to come back to hear Verdi's music, I think he would approve."

     
     

    Cummings says that roles like Macbeth and Il Trovatore's Conte di Luna remind him that a Verdian baritone role is a small step away from a tenor. It's challenging physically for the voice. Yet Verdi wasn't necessarily looking for singers with beautiful voices. Rather he sought performers that understood how color nuances communicate inner dialogue.

     

    "My job is to figure out how to do that within the constraints that Verdi gave us, because Verdi's interpretation of the character is a slight variation from Shakespeare's," he elaborates.

     

    The two singers credit Opera in the Heights for encouraging experimentation. The company, whose focus is to nurture young, upcoming talent, recognizes that it's important to cultivate an open, safe environment where artists can take risks, play with delivery and appraise the effectiveness of their performance. During five weeks of rehearsals, their execution has slowly adapted to intensify emotional clues embedded in Verdi's orchestral texture. Such a trial-and-error process is not dissimilar from Verdi's own, who revised the work numerous times throughout his life.

     

    "If Shakespeare had a chance to come back to hear Verdi's music, I think he would approve," Carreón-Robledo says.

     

    ___

     

     Opera in the Heights presents Verdi's Macbeth at Lambert Hall from Thursday through Feb. 10. Regular tickets start at $25, $21 for seniors and $10 for students, and can be purchased online. Andrew Cummings and Emily Newton share the title roles with Gustavo Ahualli and Rosa D'Imperio.

    The balance of tradition and innovation shifts the locus to a post-apocalyptic dystopian wasteland with characterization reminiscent of Mad Max.

    Macbeth, Opera in the Heights, January 2013
      
    Photo by Joel Luks
    The balance of tradition and innovation shifts the locus to a post-apocalyptic dystopian wasteland with characterization reminiscent of Mad Max.
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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this 4th of July weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 2, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    The 4th of July lands on a Friday this year, which means things will get especially patriotic this weekend.

    We’ve already listed all the fireworks celebrations and restaurant specials that’ll be popping off on Friday. (Don’t forget about the screenings of Independence Day at River Oaks Theatre, Rooftop Cinema Club and Marriott Marquis Houston.) But there are also other must-see events happening this weekend, including a LEGO convention, the second anniversary of a Third Ward eatery, the return of a Stanley Kubrick classic, and an outlaw music festival featuring Willie Freakin’ Nelson and Bob Freakin’ Dylan!

    Thursday, July 3

    Brick Rodeo
    Brick Rodeo is a family-friendly event that features hundreds of custom models and displays made from LEGO bricks. Creators from Texas and around the country will be available to talk about their creations. Fans who want to display their own creations, attend workshops, and participate in all the activities should purchase an All Access Pass. Families and individuals who want to spend a day viewing incredible custom creations, talking with builders, and shopping with vendors should purchase a public exhibition ticket. 9 am (8:30 am Friday-Sunday).

    City Place presents Young Audiences of Houston: Painting with Watercolor Pencils Art Workshop
    This free art workshop, hosted by Young Audiences of Houston teaching artist Judy Malone Stein, transforms City Place’s central waterfront plaza into a classical art studio with easels and other essential supplies. Participants are introduced to the medium of watercolor pencils and will learn basic color theory which includes the color wheel and primary and secondary colors, along with complimentary colors. They will also focus on creating compositions, using traditional visions (portraits, landscapes, still life) as their subject matter. 9:30 am.

    Improv Houston presents Dustin Ross
    Dustin Ross is a NAACP Image Award-winning host, writer, and producer. Fans of The Read podcast may know him as a longtime guest/friend to the show. These days, you can hear him on two pods: The Friend Zone, with co-hosts Hey Fran Hey and Assante; and Holding Court, with Eboni K. Williams. He has also hosted seasons of Bet on Black, REVOLT TV’s competition series, Bet On Black. As an on-air contributor, Ross has appeared on multiple platforms, including MTV, BET, Bravo TV, HBO, FUSE TV, GLAAD, Fox Soul, and more. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, July 4

    Freedom Over Texas
    With an average of 50,000 people in attendance, Freedom Over Texas has become Houston’s annual, signature July 4th celebration. The live, televised event will feature local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice, and will be capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. It also features a unique non-profit component, as the event will donate a percentage of food and beverage sales to the Houston Food Bank. 4 pm.

    Ensemble Theatre presents The Tap Dance Kid
    Over at The Ensemble Theatre, The Tap Dance Kid is about a 10-year-old African-American kid named Willie who doesn’t want to be a lawyer like his well-to-do strict father, and dreams of becoming a dancer like his talented Uncle Dipsey, an aspiring Broadway choreographer. The final production in the theater’s 2024-25 season, this musical is filled with imaginations of stardom that keep us tapping along. Through Sunday, July 27. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    Dan Electro’s presents The Broken Spokes & Oliver Penn 4th of July Party
    Freedom, music, and a 4th of July Party will be going down at Dan Electros. The show will feature a performance from traditional Texas country band The Broken Spokes, a well-seasoned outfit that’s put in the time honing their craft in honky tonks across Texas,. Also performing will be Rhode Island-born, Houston-based country singer Oliver Penn, who has shared the stage with Charley Crockett, Shakey Graves, Randall King, The California Honeydrops, and Shinyribs. 9 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Graveyard Shift: Attack the Block
    Guy Fawkes Night in London is a time for fireworks, fooling around, and an occasional surprise or two. But when vicious extraterrestrials decide to crash the hellraisers’ holiday, a time for making merry quickly turns scary. Writer-director Joe Cornish also ensures it’s frequently humorous as well. This frisky, vigorous 2011 spoof — propelled by an insistent electronic score by Steven Price & Basement Jaxx and a star-making lead turn from John Boyega — shows a similar sensibility in its breezy blending of goofiness and gruesomeness. 10 pm.

    Saturday, July 5

    Rado Market 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
    Chef Chris Williams’ market and cafe at the historic Eldorado Ballroom will celebrate its two-year anniversary with a celebration that’s free and open to the public. The event will include complimentary champagne during the first hour, food specials from chef Jaden Gaines, and live music from a DJ for the first two hours. Guests can also browse and shop from a curated lineup of local vendors offering various products for sale, including Posh Body, Ambrosia Nectar, 77 Stash, and Juxx. Patrons can also enter two raffles featuring Radiant Aura samples and other giveaways. Noon.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
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    Winnie’s presents Labubu Face Tattoo Korean Corn Dog Karaoke Party
    Never has an event’s name been a more complete description of what’s happening at the Midtown sandwich shop/cocktail bar on Saturday. Artists from Rodeo Tiger will be tattooing Labubu, the must-have accessory that feels destined to become the Beanie Babies of 2025 ($25 minimum, $50 for both sides, and $100 for full face custom work). While you wait, snack on a Korean corn dog created by chef Jennifer Hoffman. Karaoke starts at 8 pm. 1 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Barry Lyndon
    This weekend, catch the 50th anniversary screening (in glorious 35mm!) of Stanley Kubrick’s lavish, Oscar-winning 1975 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 18th-century novel. Forced to leave Ireland after killing an English officer in a duel, young Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) seeks his fortune as a soldier in Prussia, as a spy, and then as a gambler living among the elite of Europe. He changes his name and marries an aristocrat (Marisa Berenson) for her wealth, but will he finally gain the acceptance he seeks? 5 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Kings Harbor Waterfront Village presents “Fireworks on the Pier”
    Looking for a post-4th of July throwdown this weekend? Kings Harbor Waterfront Village in Kingwood will have its annual “Fireworks on the Pier” celebration, a patriotic evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities include family-friendly games like Connect Four, a balloon artist, face painting and bubble stations for kids. Local restaurants will be serving up a variety of delicious food and drink options throughout the evening. A dazzling fireworks show over the pier will begin around 10 pm. 7 pm.

    Movies at Miller: Wicked
    We know there is a lot of y’all who can’t wait for Wicked: For Good to drop in multiplexes this winter. Before that happens, head over to Miller Outdoor Theatre and revisit the Oscar-winning Broadway musical adaptation that set it all off. In the magical Land of Oz, Wicked covers the first act, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good Witch. The audience is encouraged to come in costume. 8:30 pm.

    Sunday, July 6

    Eldorado Ballroom presents Ball N’ Parlay
    Dubbed “A 1st Sunday Vibeout,” Ball N’ Parlay is a vibrant, Third Ward day party that’s going to be held outside the legendary Eldorado Ballroom. They’re really hyping this one up, calling it “the Sunday you’ve been waiting for, where music, community, and culture meet.” We’re just psyched that some of our favorite DJs will be doing live sets, including DJ Elevated, Maiya Papaya, Alist, and DJ Bloom. 3 pm.

    Outlaw Music Festival
    If you grew up going to Cactus Music and picking up the latest issue of No Depression, looking for the latest in outlaw country releases to scoop up, a fest full of iconic, guitar-strumming banditos will be making a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this weekend. The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. 4:05 pm.

    CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
    As of this writing, we don’t know who will be playing in the final match of the soccer championship known as the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, going down this weekend at NRG Stadium. What we do now is that the winners will be determined on Wednesday night, when the semifinal matchups – the USMNT vs. Guatemala and Mexico vs. Honduras – will take place. This also marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in the state of Texas. 6 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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