World premiere: 14 March 1847, Teatro della Pergola, Florence
Premiere of this production: 18 April 2001, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg
Running time: 2 hours 55 minutes
The performance has one intervals
SYNOPSIS
The opera is set in Scotland, then on the Scottish and English border.
ACT I
Three
witches appear and describe their evil deeds. When they hear a drum
heralding Macbeth's approach, they break into dance and song. Macbeth
and Banco, two generals in Duncan's army, arrive. The witches greet
Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland; they
hail Banco as the father of future kings. Messengers arrive to announce
the fulfillment of the first prophecy. To Banco's alarm, Macbeth
reflects on gaining the throne (Due vaticini compiuti or sono).
The witches leave (S'allontanarono!).
Lady
Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth telling her of his victory in
battle of the witches' prophecy. She revolves to help him fulfil it (Vieni t'affretta!).
When a messenger announces that the King is on his way to the castle
with Macbeth, she realises they must act that night and calls on the
powers of evil to help her (Or tutti sorgete). Macbeth appears,
and husband and wife quickly agree to the murder. King Duncan and his
retinue arrive. A vision of a dagger prompts Macbeth to go and kill
Duncan (Mi si affaccia). But when he returns, wracked with remorse, his wife accuses him of cowardice (Fatal mia donna!).
She snatches the dagger and goes off to the King's rooms to incriminate
the guards, returning with bloody hands to her now guilt-stricken
husband. Macduff and Banco appear. While Macduff goes to wake the King,
Banco reflects on the stormy night. Macduff discovers the murder and
wakes the house. Everyone vows vengeance on the unknown assassin (Schiudi, inferno, la bocca ed inghiotti).
ACT II
Macbeth
is now King of Scotland and Duncan's son Malcolm, blamed for his
father's death, has fled to England. Because the witches prophesied
that Banco would be a father of kings, Macbeth and his wife now plot to
kill him and his sons; Lady Macbeth is triumphant (Trionfai! Securi alfine).
Assassins in Macbeth's service wait for Banco in the dark. He and his son Fleanzio arrive, Banco uneasy with foreboding (Come dal ciel precipita). Banco is murdered but his son escapes.
Macbeth and his queen welcome guests to a feast and she proposes a toast (Si colmi il calice).
An
assassin arrives and tells Macbeth what has happened in the park.
Macbeth offers an explanation for Banco's absence, but when he goes to
sit down he sees the ghost of Banco. Lady Macbeth tries to calm her
husband and the troubled guests. The ghost reappears and Lady Macbeth
is unable to control her demented husband (Sangue a me quell'ombra). The Scottish nobles fear their land is now in the grip of criminals and Macduff decides to join the exiles.
ACT III
On
a stormy night the witches invoke evil spirits as they brew their magic
potions. Macbeth arrives and asks them to prophesy his destiny. In
response they conjure up three apparitions who, in turn, warn him to
beware of Macduff, that he need fear ‘none born of woman', and that he
will invincible until Birnam Wood marches on his castle.
The witches
then summon the apparition of eight kings who pass Macbeth, followed by
Banco carrying a mirror. Terrified, Macbeth recognises them as Banco's
descendants (Fuggi, o regal fantasima). Macbeth faints and the witches dance round him (Ondine e silfide), then disappear. Recovering, he vows to destroy Macduff and his family.
ACT IV
Scottish refugees lament the suffering of their oppressed homeland and its wretched people (Patria oppressa! Il dolce nome).
Macdufff is distraught at the news of his wife's and children's murders
(Ah, la paterna mano). Malcolm arrives, leading a troop of English
soldiers, and urges Macduff to find comfort in exacting revenge.
Malcolm rallies the refugees to join forces in attacking Macbeth, using
branches from the wood as camouflage.
Lady Macbeth, who has taken to sleepwalking, describes and relives the atrocities she and her husband have committed (Una macchia è qui tuttora). Macbeth, in desperation, awaits the advancing troops and reflects on his impending downfall (Pietà, rispetto, amore).
He is so distraught that he fails to react to the news of his wife's
death. When soldiers announce that Birnam Wood is on the move, he
recalls the witches' prophecy.
An bare field
English
soldiers carrying branches are advancing. Macbeth appears, pursued by
Macduff. The other two prophecies are now fulfilled: Macduff reveals
that he was not born naturally but surgically removed from his mother's
womb; in the ensuing fight Macbeth falls to Macduff's sword. Malcolm is
proclaimed King.
