Lady Macbeth von Mzensk

This is one of the most important operas of the twentieth century, and it's great that Petr Weigl has brought us such a high-octane version. Instead of filming a stage performance, he shows actors performing in natural locations and scenery - while lip-synching to a top-notch recital by Vishnevskaya and company. This works better than you'd think; one reason is that the opera is so intense that technical details become unimportant.

Although the action scenes command attention, the central point of the work has to be Katerina's aria of loneliness - one of the most powerful declamations put on the stage. The Czech actress Markéta Hrubesová takes on a difficult job and pulls it off perfectly.

Stalin banned this work as too radical, and Shostakovich went in fear of his life for several months - one of the few times an opera has gotten mixed up in heavy-duty politics. Probably quite a few audiences will agree with Stalin, but there's no reason why intelligent people should do so. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is rarely performed outside major centres, and parts of the action are hard to follow on a recording, This movie fills the gap, leading to a real understanding of the work.