Witches, Murderers, and a Cimbasso
Once again I am enjoying playing with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in Opera Lyra’s production of Verdi’s “Macbeth”, Verdi’s first staging of a work of Shakespeare written in 1847. I love playing opera! And there is actually quite a bit of playing in this one. Brass chords are prominent throughout the work, as is typical of the writing of Verdi. It is so much fun is working with this orchestra’s great brass section. And one of the things that is so unique about the sound is the use of the Cimbasso as the bass instrument, played by tubist Nick Atkinson. The Cimbasso is basically a large valved bass trombone, and was the bass brass instrument of choice for Verdi operas. It’s closeness in sonority to the rest of the brass creates a chordal sound that literally resonates through your bones! Ten brass playing perfectly in tune can sound like an organ.
This is a great opera for the brass. You’re always playing, and there are many sweet moments for the trumpets. The down-side, of course, is that because I am in the pit I have absolutely no idea what is going on above me…
