50th Season
2006–2007
Macbeth
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
after the play by William Shakespeare
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
after the play by William Shakespeare
|
50th Season 2006–2007 |
Macbeth Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after the play by William Shakespeare |
Act 1:
Returning from battle, Macbeth and Banquo chance upon a coven of witches who
hail Macbeth prophetically as the new thane of Cawdor and future King of Scotland,
and predict that Banquo will be father of kings. Immediately, word arrives
that King Duncan has found the incumbent thane of Cawdor guilty of treason
and has named Macbeth in his place. In the castle, Lady Macbeth reads
a letter from her husband reporting about the witches and the instant fulfillment
of the first of the prophecies. She finds out that King Duncan is coming to
the castle at nightfall, and resolves to expedite the second part of the prophecy:
at midnight, encouraged by his wife, Macbeth murders the King as he sleeps.
She urges Macbeth to smear blood on the sleeping bodyguards, to incriminate
them. When he refuses, terrified of returning to the scene of the crime, she
grabs the dagger and does it herself. A while later, Macduff and Banquo discover
the crime. The household is roused and all call for the wrath of Hell to be
unleashed upon the perpetrators of the crime.
Act II:
Malcolm, King Duncan’s son, has fled to England, raising suspicions that
he was the assassin, and leaving the throne vacant. Macbeth, now King of Scotland,
is obsessed with the prophecy that Banquo will father kings. Lady Macbeth convinces
him to have Banquo and his young son, Fleance, killed. As he leaves to
arrange the murders, she rejoices in the ecstasy of royal power. That night
Banquo dies in an ambush in the woods but his son manages to escape. During
a banquet for a group of noblemen, Macbeth announces that Banquo is delayed. The
celebration continues until the terrified Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost
sitting at the table at starts hallucinating. Lady Macbeth tries to steady
him but the guests begin to suspect. Macduff resolves to leave the country
now ruled by a guilty hand.
Act III:
Macbeth again seeks counsel from the witches. They conjure up three apparitions
that tell him that no one born of woman can harm him, warn him against Macduff,
and assure him he will be invincible until Birnam wood marches against him.
He also sees a vision of Banquo’s descendants as kings, and faints. Lady
Macbeth convinces him to have Macduff and his entire family killed.
Act IV:
Near Birnam wood, the refugees from Macbeth’s tyranny lament their fate.
Macduff vows revenge for the murders of his wife and children. Malcolm commands
the troops to cut branches from the trees in Birnam wood, and camouflage themselves
as they advance on Macbeth’s castle. In the castle, Lady Macbeth sleepwalks,
obsessively attempting to wash blood off her hands. To the horror of her lady-in-waiting
and doctor, she re-enacts her argument with Macbeth after Duncan’s murder.
Macbeth curses the witches’ prophecies, which are being fulfilled, and
laments being deprived of the love and respect of his people in his declining
years. The lady-in-waiting arrives to tell him that Lady Macbeth has
died, and soldiers arrive with news that Birnam wood is moving against the
castle. On the battlefield, Macduff finally confronts Macbeth, who gloats
that no man born of woman can harm him. Macduff replies that he was not born,
but torn from his mother’s womb. He kills Macbeth. Malcolm is proclaimed
King of Scotland.
