Overview
Synopsis
A witches’ prophecy, and fierce ambition, lead Macbeth and his wife to commit ruthless acts of violence against their family and friends, until they are both driven mad with the guilt and consequences of their actions. In Verdi’s retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the drama of Macbeth’s ruthless ambition is heightened by the addition of Verdi’s intense vocal writing, and vast choruses. Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness, in her famous sleepwalking scene, is considered one of the most sublime moments in all of Verdi’s operas.
Show Information
- Music
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Libretto
- Francesco Maria Piave
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1847
- Genres
- Drama, Tragedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period, Fantasy/Imaginary
- Time & Place
- 11th century, Scotland
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
Verdi began work on Macbeth in 1846, after receiving a commission from the Teatro della Pergola in Florence. Francesco Piave based his libretto for Macbeth after a poetic translation of the play by Carlo Rusconi. Although the subject was unusual for Italian opera in the 19th century, Verdi was a life-long lover of Shakespeare, and it would be the first of many successful adaptations across his career. Coming off the success of his recent Attila , and casting Felice
to read the context for Macbeth and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The plot of this opera follows the main plot points of the play, with the only variations being the number of witches and assassins, and the removal of a few minor characters. The full plot of Shakespeare’s play can be read in our guide to Macbeth.
to read the plot for Macbeth and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Silent |
Songs
Act One
- No. 1 Prelude
- No. 2 Introduction: ‘Che faceste? dite su!’ - Streghe
- ‘Giorno non vidi mai sì fiero e bello!’ - Macbeth, Banco, Streghe
- ‘Pro Macbetto! Il tuo signore’ - Chorus, Macbeth, Banco
- Scene and Duet ‘Due vaticini compiuti or sono’ - Macbeth, Banquo, Chorus
- Witches Chorus: ‘S’allontanarono’ - Chorus
- No. 3 Scene and Cavatina ‘Vieni! T'affretta’ - Lady Macbeth
- ‘Al cader della sera il Re qui giunge’ - Servo, Lady Macbeth
- ‘Or tutti sorgete’ - Lady Macbeth
- No. 4 Scene and March: ‘Oh donna mia!’ - Macbeth, Lady Macbeth
- No. 5 ‘Sappia la sposa mia … Mi si affaccia un pugnai’ - Macbeth
- Grand Scene ‘Regna il sonno su tutti’ - Lady Macbeth, Macbeth
- Duet ‘Fatal mia donna!’ - Lady Macbeth, Macbeth
- No. 6 Finale I: Scene ‘Di destarlo per tempo il Re m’impose’ - Macduff, Banco, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Malcolm, Dama, Chorus
- Finale I: Sextet: ‘Schiudi, o inferno, la bocca ed inghiotti’ - Chorus, Lady Macbeth, Dama, Macduff, Macbeth, Malcolm, Banco
Act Two
- No. 7 Scene ‘Perche mi sfuggi, e fiso’ - Lady Macbeth, Macbeth
- Aria ‘La luce langue; il faro spegnesi’ - Lady Macbeth, Macbeth
- No. 8 Assassin’s Chorus: ‘Chi v’impose a unirvi a noi?’ - Chorus
- No. 8.5 Scene: ‘Studia il passo, o mio figlio!’ - Banco
- Aria ‘Come dal ciel precipita’ - Banco
- No. 9 Banquet ‘Salve, o Re! Voi pur salvete’ and ‘Si colmi il calice’ - Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Macduff, Chorus, Dama
- ‘Tu di sangue hai brutto il volto’ - Macbeth, Sicario
- Visione ‘Che ti scosta o Re mio sposo’ - Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Chorus
- Finale II ‘Va! Spirto d’abisso!’ and ‘Sangue a me quell’ombra chiede’ - Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Dama, Macbeth, Chorus
Act Three
- No. 10 Incantation ‘Tre volte miagola la gatta in fregola’ - Chorus
- Ballet
- No. 11 Recitative ‘Finche appelli, silenti m’attendete’
- Apparizioni ‘Dalle basse, dall’alte regioni’ and ‘Fuggi, o regal fantasima’ - Macbeth
- Dancers ‘Ondine e silfidi’ - Chorus
- Finale III ‘Ove son io? Svaniro! Oh sia ne secoli’ and ‘Ora di morte e di vendetta’ - Lady Macbeth, Apparizioni, Araldo, Macbeth, Chorus
Act Four
- No. 12 Scottish Chorus ‘Patria oppressa! il dolce nome!’ - Chorus
- No. 13 Scene ‘Oh figli! O figli miei! Da quel tiranno’ - Macduff
- Aria ‘Ah, la paterna mano’ - Macduff
- ‘Dove siam? Che bosco e quello’ - Malcolm, Chorus, Macduff
- No. 14 Sleepwalking Scene ‘Vegliammo in van due notti’ - Dama, Medico
- Aria ‘Una macchia… e qui tutt’ora!’ - Lady Macbeth, Dama, Medico
- No. 15 ‘Perfidi! All Angolo contro me v’unite!’ - Macbeth
- Aria ‘Pieta, rispetto, amore’ - Macbeth
- Battle ‘Ella e morta! Qual gemita! - Chorus, Macbeth, Dama
- ‘Via le fronde, e mano all’armi’ - Macduff, Macbeth, Chorus
- Finale IV ‘Vittoria!’ - Malcolm, Macduff, Chorus
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.