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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

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

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Macbeth

Lead

Male

Baritone

Lady Macbeth

Lead

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

Banco

Supporting

Male

Bass

Macduff

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Malcolm

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Dama di Lady Macbeth

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Medico

Featured

Male

Bass

Domestico di Macbeth

Featured

Male

Bass

Sicario

Featured

Male

Bass

Fleanzio

Featured

Male

Silent

Duncano

Featured

Male

Silent

Un araldo

Featured

Male

Bass

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Tre Apparizioni (3)

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Bass

Ecate

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.

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Scenes

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.