Macbeth – Giuseppe Verdi

Opera in four acts

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei

Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus

Teatro alla Scala New Production

Wiener Staatsoper Production

Second title of the Season and second Shakespeare-inspired Verdi opera for Music Director Myung-Whun Chung, Macbeth is an opera deeply rooted in the performance history of Teatro alla Scala. Luca Salsi has already authoritatively interpreted the title role, including for a season opening, and there is great anticipation for the La Scala debut of Anastasia Bartoli, a new leading figure on the Italian operatic scene. Barrie Kosky, one of the leading names in today’s directing world, also presents his first production in Milan: a Zurich-created production that achieved enormous success, in which the protagonists wander alone through an environment of darkness inhabited only by their voices and Verdi’s music.

Storyline

Act 1

Macbeth and Banco, the king's generals, return from the war.

Witches prophetically greet Macbeth, Lord of Glamis, as Lord of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Banco also wants to know his future. He is to become the father of kings. Soldiers announce Macbeth's appointment as Lord of Cawdor.

Macbeth shudders at the violence with which he could make the second prophecy come true. Banco sees through his temptation.

The witches expect Macbeth to visit them again soon. A letter from her husband tells Lady Macbeth about the encounter with the witches. She knows his ambition, but doubts his willingness to use violence. She is determined to remove his inhibitions.

A servant announces the imminent arrival of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth pins all her hopes on the night that the king will spend under her roof. Before the king and his entourage arrive, Macbeth and the lady find time to communicate.

Macbeth sees a bloody dagger leading him to the king's bedroom. At the agreed signal, he enters.

After the murder, the completely distraught Macbeth refuses to enter the room again in order to slip the murder weapon to the sleeping guards. Lady Macbeth does so. There is a knock at the door. Lady Macbeth drags her husband away with her.

Macduff and Banco discover the dead man and raise the alarm. Those who have rushed to the scene curse the murderer and call for God's judgment.

Act 2

Duncan's son Malcolm has fled to England. He is believed to be his father's murderer. Macbeth is king.

To prevent the prophecy that Banco will be the father of kings from coming true, he decides to kill Banco and his son Fleance.

Lady Macbeth becomes intoxicated with the power of life and death. Assassins hired by Macbeth lure Banco and his son into an ambush. Banco, who has accepted Macbeth's invitation despite his suspicions, is murdered. Fleance manages to escape.

The new king and queen give a party. Lady Macbeth sings a drinking song. One of the murderers informs Macbeth of Banco's death and Fleance's escape. As Macbeth sits down on the vacant armchair, Banco's ghost sits on it. Lady Macbeth and the guests do not see him. The ghost disappears. Macbeth has the drinking song repeated. Banco's ghost appears once more. Macbeth decides to go to the witches. The Lady reviles his fear of ghosts. The party observes the ruler's disintegration. Macduff, a Scottish nobleman, will leave the country.

Act 3

The witches are at work. Macbeth wants to know his fate.

The witches conjure up spirits. They prophesy: Macbeth should beware of Macduff; no one born of a woman can wound him; until the forest of Birnam comes against him, he is invincible. Macbeth wants to know whether Banco's family will reign. Eight kings appear, the last carrying a mirror: Banco. Laughing, he shows the long line of his crowned descendants. Macbeth faints.

Lady Macbeth is told about the apparitions. Macbeth and his wife will destroy Macduff's and Banco's families.

Act 4

A refugee camp on the border between Scotland and England. Large sections of the Scottish population flee their country to escape Macbeth's tyranny.

Macduff thinks of his wife and children. He has left them behind in Scotland. Macbeth has murdered them. Macduff wants to carry out God's revenge.

Malcolm is on his way to Scotland with an English army. In the forest of Birnam, he orders the soldiers to disguise themselves with branches. Fugitives join the army.

A doctor and a chambermaid observe the sleepwalking Lady Macbeth. She repeatedly tries to remove a supposed bloodstain from her hand. Macbeth senses that death is near. He is without hope. The chambermaid reports the queen's death. Soldiers announce the approach of the Forest of Birnam. Macbeth calls for death or victory.

Macduff, who was once cut from his mother's womb, kills Macbeth, Macbeth is "cursed by God and man".

Malcolm is King of Scotland.