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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
    play icon

    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.

    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

    Macbeth, Opera in the Heights, January 2013
      
    Photo by Joel Luks
    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
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    weekend event planner

    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    May 14, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Josephine's Crawfish boil
    Photo by Quit Nguyen
    Josephine's will be serving crawfish at EZ's Liquor Lounge.

    This weekend promises to have good times, good music and a helluva lot of crawfish.

    Two different crawfish boils will be going down, certain to make any seafood lover go on a head-sucking frenzy. We also have an immersive rock experience courtesy of a legendary music magazine, the grand opening of a new sports bar, the return of a Southern hip-hop trailblazer, the 35mm debut of a recent Oscar winner, and a salute to three guys who often told people they should be dancing.

    Thursday, May 15

    ARTECHOUSE presents Rolling Stone Presents: AMPLIFIED, The Immersive Rock Experience
    Rolling Stone Presents: AMPLIFIED brings the history of rock ‘n roll to life with a dynamic mix of music and visuals. Narrated by actor/musician Kevin Bacon, the show is a guided tour through the story of revolutionary music and the changes it brought. AMPLIFIED draws from rare live performance and behind-the-scenes footage, never-before-seen moments, exclusive portrait sessions, album art, and posters, delivering one of the most comprehensive collections of rock ‘n roll imagery ever assembled. 5 pm.

    Alley Theatre presents Primary Trust
    Kenneth has lived the same routine every day for the past 15 years. During the day, he goes to work at a bookstore; at night, he goes to a tiki bar with his friend Bert. When the bookstore goes out of business, Kenneth is forced to push past his boundaries and reconcile with his past. Primary Trust is a tender-hearted tale of old friends, new beginnings, and the smallest of chances. Through Sunday, May 25. 7:30 pm (8 pm Friday; 2 and 8 pm Saturday; 2 and 7 pm Sunday).

    Improv Houston presents Melissa Villaseñor
    Melissa Villaseñor spent six seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, where she impersonated everyone from Bjork to Natalie Portman to Owen Wilson to fellow ex-SNLer Kristen Wiig. She’s also done extensive voiceover acting on Fox’s Family Guy, Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time, and Comedy Central’s Triptank. Catch her doing her standup thing at Improv Houston this weekend. 7:30 pm (7:30 and 9:45 pm Friday; 7 and 9:30 pm Saturday).

    Friday, May 16

    La Cabra Grand Opening Weekend
    La Cabra, Houston’s newest destination for sports fans, will officially open with a two-night, grand opening celebration. Founded by former MasterChef contestant Joseph Manglicmot, La Cabra is a soccer-focused sports bar. The opening will feature a lineup of local food vendors, including Lafitte’s Seafood serving up fresh crawfish, Ceviche El Guero offering ceviche specials, and Pascual’s Tacos. Attendees can also enjoy hourly giveaways and music by DJ Maniville. 5 pm.

    The Heritage Society presents Juneteenth Legacy Project with Sam Collins
    The Heritage Society's Juneteenth Celebration kicks off with subject matter expert Sam Collins. Teaming with Sue Johnson of the Nia Cultural Center in Galveston, he and others have established the Juneteenth Legacy Project. Collins has also been involved in Juneteeth celebrations in both Galveston and Hitchcock, and other historic preservation efforts in Galveston County. Tickets include a wine and cheese reception with a pop-up exhibit by Houston Suffragists Project. 6 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Anora
    Anora (Oscar winner Mikey Madison), a young woman from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as her new husband’s parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. Showing at MFAH this weekend (in glorious 35mm!), see why Anora earned the Palme d’Or at Cannes and continued to triumph through the awards season, culminating in five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. 7 pm (5 pm Sunday).

    Houston Symphony presents "Stayin’ Alive: The Bee Gees & Beyond"
    Yes, brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb were the high-pitched kings of disco back in the day. But you can’t deny these guys made some timeless bops. (It’s certainly fun watching young YouTubers discover their music.) The Houston Symphony will celebrate the best of the Bee Gees, and beyond. A cappella sensation Rajaton brings their smooth harmonies to the songs that lit up the disco era in the high-energy concert, led by principal Pops conductor Steven Reineke. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday)

    Saturday, May 17

    Johnnie Means Academy Fourth Annual International Water Safety Day Festival
    While the Houston Swim Club will host a Water Safety Day fest in Sugar Land, Johnnie Means Aquatics will have its 4th Annual International Water Safety Day Festival at Texas Southern University’s Recreation Center. Guests can expect hands-on experiences around drowning prevention, beginner swim techniques, and lifeguard safety training. Participants will hear from water safety advocates, survivors, and professionals sharing their insights and experiences. 10 am.

    Saint Julian’s Social Club presents Spring Renaissance Festival
    The circus-themed pop-up bar is teaming up with Midtown bar Winnie’s for a one-of-a-kind Renaissance Faire. The all-day, family-friendly event features axe throwing, a dunk tank, jousting, magic, face painting, juggling, tarot, and short form Dungeons and Dragons. Since it wouldn’t be a festival without food, look for Hot Cheeto fried pickles, lamb meatball sliders, smoked andouille corndog bites, and the “I Smoked At Turkey Leg Hut” — a house smoked turkey leg glazed in spicy barbecue sauce. 12 pm.

    Project Row Houses present Crawfish and Brews
    Crawfish and Brews is back, ladies and gents. Now in its 11th year, Crawfish and Brews brings the community together for music, crawfish, and fun. The event is once again partnering with Project Row Houses, an organization that has been a champion for Houston art and culture. While you get your mudbug on, you can also tour the row houses. Currently on view is Round 58: Free Someone, which celebrates Houston artists who have overcome adversity to become renowned for their artwork in public places, using the city’s landscape as their canvas. 2 pm.

    Silver Street Studios presents "Visual Symphony: The Salon Revisited" opening reception
    Silver Street Studios will present "Visual Symphony: The Salon Revisited," a showcase of contemporary art that invites visitors to immerse themselves in a rich tapestry of creativity, talent, and innovation. The exhibition, inspired by the grand salon traditions of 17th and 18th-century France, reimagines the classic format to celebrate the diversity of artistic voices within our vibrant community. Through Saturday, June 21. 5 pm.

    Camo Fest: Master P and Friends
    Who wants to go back to the late ‘90s? If you miss those days, you should check out the Camo Fest, which features throwback rap from New Orleans rap king Master P and several of his former No Limit soldiers (MIa X, Choppa, Fiend, Mac, and Mercedes). Other parts of the Dirty South will also be represented: 8Ball & MJG from Memphis, Young Dro from Atlanta, Webbie from Baton Rouge, and Lil Keke from right here in H-Town. 7 pm.

    Sunday, May 18

    EZ’s Liquor Lounge x Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition Crawfish Boil
    EZ’s Liquor Lounge and Josephine’s will be hosting a crawfish boil this weekend at the Heights neighborhood bar. Crawfish will be $9 per pound, while sausage links will be $5 and potatoes, corn and mushrooms will be $4 each. And there will also be plenty of wet sauce to go around. 1 pm.

    Emissary Quartet and Nicky Sohn in concert
    Emissary Quartet presents a special concert featuring the world premiere of a new work by composer Nicky Sohn. This piece is part of [moment]um, the quartet’s upcoming album, set to release later in 2025. The event showcases the quartet’s innovative approach to flute ensemble music, blending contemporary artistry with dynamic programming. Alongside Sohn’s premiere, EQ will perform selections from [moment]um. 6 pm.

    The Manns in concert
    Some of you may know Fort Worth’s own David & Tamela Mann, aka The Manns, as the stars of Meet the Browns, Tyler Perry’s hit play that eventually became a movie that also was spun off into a sitcom. But the pair are also very acclaimed gospel singers. This weekend, they’ll be coming to Sugar Land in support of their 2024 album, Live, Breathe, Fight. They'll be joined by Karen Clark Sheard, Erica Campbell, Tye Tribbett, and Kierra Sheard. 8 pm.



    Josephine's Crawfish boil
      

    Photo by Quit Nguyen

    Josephine's will be serving crawfish at EZ's Liquor Lounge.

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