Macbeth – Opera by Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi’s Opera based on Shakespeare
Macbeth, an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth plot summary, Macbeth character list, and other Verdi opera information.
Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian Opera Macbeth
Composed:1846-47 (revised 1864-65)
First Performance: March 14, 1847, Teatro della Pergola, Florence (Italy)
Revised Version Première: April 21, 1865, Paris (France)
Libretto:Francesco Maria Piave based on the Shakespeare play Macbeth
Setting:Scotland, around Macbeth’s castle, 11th century
Tragic Opera in 4 acts
The Main Characters in Verdi’s Macbeth
- Macbeth, general and the future king of Scotland (baritone)
- Lady Macbeth, his wife (soprano)
- Duncan, King of Scotland (mute)
- Banquo, general (bass)
- Macduff, Scottish nobleman (tenor)
- Malcom, Duncan’s son (tenor)
- Fleance, Banquo’s son (mute)
Basic Plot Summary of Verdi’s Macbeth
Act I
There is a prediction made by three witches 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. His wife, Lady Macbeth, having read a letter about the witches prophesy, questions her husband’s will to take the throne. She encourages her husband to kill King Duncan in his sleep. Macduff and Banquo 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, which scares Macbeth. (though only he 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. Warning him about Mcduff, another ghost tells Macbeth that no harm will come to him until Birnam Wood moves toward him. Macbeth sees a vision of eight kings pass before his eyes, which frightens him. The last of the eight kings is the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth plans to kill Banquo’s son, Macduff’s wife and Macduff’s children.
Act IV
Macduff is planning revenge, having heard news that his family has been killed. Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking. As she sleepwalks, she imagines blood on her hands. She 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 in an “untimely” fashion at birth and then kills Macbeth.
If you like Macbeth, here are some other operas written by Verdi:
- 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
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