Geoff Brown at Covent Garden [Times Online, 2 October 2006]

FEW recent musical parties have been as prolonged and extensive as Shostakovich’s. Even moles in their tunnels must know that he was born 100 years ago, had troubles with Stalin and wrote 15 noisy symphonies. The Royal Opera House’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, winner of the 2005 Olivier award for Best New Opera Production, was an obvious choice for a centenary revival. Who could resist this knickerbocker glory of sex, violence, satire and tragedy?