8 days until the Macbeth premiere!

With little over a week until the opening, rehearsals are well under way. James Levine and the orchestra have joined the singers and the production team, and director Adrian Noble is putting the finishing touches to his new production. Here are some photos from this week’s rehearsals.

Adrian Noble explaining a scene to cast and team members

Zeljko Lucic and Maria Guleghina as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Lucic, Guleghina and Noble

A scene change is being prepared

Photos: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

9 days until the Macbeth premiere!

During his 17 years with the Met’s props department, John Dollinger has worked on many productions—but never as a witch. In the new Macbeth, he and several colleagues will perform an onstage set change from the witches’ scene to the bedroom in Act I of the opera. Since they will be in plain view of the audience, set and costume designer Mark Thompson decided to have them wear witches’ costumes. At a fitting on Friday afternoon, Dollinger tried on a dress, a wig, and some jewellery. “I’ve been in a kilt once in Brigadoon,” he said, “but never in a dress!” “Well,” joked Thompson, “it’s not easy being a girl.”

Propman John Dollinger’s transformation into a witch begins.

Designer Mark Thompson adjusts the hat…

…and puts on some jewellery.

A propman bewitched.

Photos: Philipp Brieler/Metropolitan Opera

10 days until the Macbeth premiere!

Adrian Noble explains his vision of Macbeth and the concept of his new production in a Director’s Note he has written for the program. Here’s a page from his handwritten draft. The full text will be published in the Met’s Playbill.