Verdi Opera Macbeth

Macbeth, an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth plot summary, Macbeth character list, and other Verdi opera information.

The 4-act tragic opera Macbeth by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi premieres in Teatro della Pergola, Florence, Italy, on March 14, 1847. It is based on the libretto by Francesco Maria Piave on a play of the same name by William Shakespeare. Verdi composed it 1846-1847, and revised 1864-1865.  The revise version première was: April 21, 1865, in Paris.
Setting is in Scotland, around 11th century Macbeth’s castle.

Here's a performance of Macbeth conducted by Riccardo Muti, uploaded by operaliricachannel. Published 15 January 2013

Main Cast of Characters in Verdi’s Macbeth:

• Macbeth, a general and the future king of Scotland  (baritone)
• Lady Macbeth, his wife  (soprano)
• Duncan, King of Scotland  (silent)
• Banquo, A general  (bass)
• Macduff, A Scottish nobleman  (tenor)
• Malcolm, Duncan’s son  (tenor)
• Fleance, Banquo’s son   (mute)

Synopsis / Plot Summary of Verdi’s Macbeth 

Act I

The three witches predict to Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth will become the next King of Scotland as well as Thane of Cawdor and that Banquo, son of the current King, will become the father to future kings. Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor.  Lady Macbeth, having read a letter about the witches prophesy, questions her husband’s will to take the throne and sets in motion the kingship prophecy.  She forces her husband to kill King Duncan whilst he is asleep. Macduff arrive to find a murdered King Duncan.

Act II

Macbeth is now king of Scotland. Remembering the prophesy of the witches, Macbeth decides that Banquo and his children must be put to death. Banquo is killed. Banquo’s son, Fleance, escapes murder. During a banquet, Banquo’s ghost appears. It scares Macbeth and he alone can see the ghost. Lady Macbeth tries to distract the guests. Macduff decides to leave Scotland for England.

Act III

Macbeth returns to the witches, who tell him that "no man born of woman” will ever harm him. Another ghost tells Macbeth that no harm will come to him until Birnam Wood moves towards him. Macbeth sees a vision of eight kings pass before his eyes, which terrifies him. The last of the eight kings is the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth plans to kill Banquo’s son, and Macduff’s wife and children.

Act IV

Macduff is planning revenge, after hearing the news that his family has been killed. As Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, she imagines blood on her hands and remembers the murders that they have committed. Macbeth sees Birnam Wood approaching, but also remembers that no man “born of woman” can hurt him. Macduff tells Macbeth that he was “ripped” from his mother’s womb at birth and then kills Macbeth.


Video Credit:

Giuseppe, Verdi. Macbeth. Youtube, uploaded by operaliricachannel. Accessed 11 April 2016.

Major Operas by Verdi:

(Regret for the unavailability of links published from suite.io; the site has closed down and I wasn't able to recover my original articles. / Tel )

• Nabucco
• I Lombardi alla prima crociata
• Ernani
• Attila
• Macbeth
• Luisa Miller
• Rigoletto
• Il Trovatore
• La Traviata
• Simon Boccanegra
• Un ballo in maschera
• La forza del destino
• Don Carlos
• Aida
• Otello
• Falstaff

Resources:

• Holden, Amanda (Ed.), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001.
• Riding, Alan & Dunton-Downer, Leslie,  Opera.  DK: London, 2006
• Warrack, John and West, Ewan, The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. New York: OUP: 1992.

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