Macbeth, Giuseppe Verdi

Ópera em quatro actos. Libreto de Francesco Maria Piave segundo a tragédia homónima de William Shakespeare

Direcção musical Antonio Pirolli
Encenação Elena Barbalich
Cenografia e figurinos Tommaso Lagattolla
Desenho de luz Michele Vittoriano

Intérpretes
Johan Reuter Macbeth
Dimitra Theodossiou Lady Macbeth
Fabio Sartori Macduff
Giovanni Furlanetto Banco
Carlos Guilherme Malcolm
João de Oliveira Médico
Sara Braga Simões Aia de Lady Macbeth
Carlos Pedro Santos Um criado
Simeon Dimitrov Um Sicário
Daniel Paixão Primeira Aparição

Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa

Coro do Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
maestro titular Giovanni Andreoli

Produção
Teatro Municipal «Giuseppe Verdi» de Salerno

Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
31 de Maio a 8 de Junho de 2007
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ACT ONE
As the storm dies down the witches announce the arrival of Macbeth. Here he is: he approaches with Banquo, both men having just fought a battle.
The witches greet Maacbeth, calling him thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland. Macbeth is only thane of Glamis; he is taken aback and wonders why the witches use the other two titles which do not belong to him.
Macbeth and Banquo are bewildered: Banquo asks the witches to foretell his future. Their answer: "You will be lesser yet greater than Macbeth, happier than he and the father of kings."
Then the witches move away and messengers arrive from Duncan, king of Scotland. The announce to Macbeth that the thane of Cawdor has been killed and that Duncan has decided to confer his title on Macbeth.
One of the witches' prophecies has come true immediately. Macbeth is deeply struck and Banquo observes suspiciously. The two warriors move off, under the piercing gaze of the witches.
In the hall of the family castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter in which her husband tells her about the witches' prophecy.
Lady Macbeth understands that her husband would like to become king but fears that he is not bold enough. Thus when Macbeth arrives she urges him to act: the king, just announced by a servant, is on his way to their castle.
Duncan and his entourage enter and are shown to their chambers. During the night, in a state of agitation, Macbeth slips into the king's chamber. Lady Macbeth hear her husband's voice and a moment later sees him arriving with a look of terror on his face. In his hand he holds a bloody dagger. Lady Macbeth acts swiftly: she daubs the servants clothes with blood to make them appear guilty and replaces the dagger in Duncan's room.
The noblewoman just manages to drag her husband away when they hear knocking at the door. Banquo and Macduff have come to wake the king: Macduff enters his chamber and comes out horror-stricken, announcing that Duncan has been murdered.

ACT TWO
Macbeth confesses his anguish to his wife: by killing Duncan he has won the throne of Scotland. Now he fears the realisation of the other prophecy, in which the witches foretold that Banquo would be father of kings.
Two further crimes are thus required: Banquo and his son must be killed. Lady Macbeth is clearly shaken.
Assassins prepare an ambush in Macbeth's grounds. Hidden among the trees they are waiting to kill Banquo and his son.
Banquo and his son Fleance cross the stage wary and worried. Immediately afterwards Banquo, struck by a sword, cries out with his dying breath, warning his son to flee.
In the meantime a magnificent banquet has been prepared at the castle to celebrate the new king.
One of the assassins slips in at one side of the hall. He whispers to Macbeth that Banquo is dead but that his son has managed to get away.
Troubled by this news Macbeth steps up to the table: at that very moment the ghost of Banquo appears in front of him.
The guests are shocked: Lady Macbeth tries in vain to distract them by proposing a toast.

ACT THREE
The witches are in their cave, busily stirring an enormous, seething cauldron. Hecate, accompanied by devils and spirits, announces to the witches that Macbeth is about to arrive: the ruin that awaits him cannot be postponed much longer.
Macbeth enters and asks the witches to tell him his future. In the cavern he sees a head with a helmet on it: he must beware of Macduff.
Then a bleeding boy appears: a voice reassures Macbeth that no man born of a woman can do him any harm.
The second boy wears a crown. The voice assures Macbeth that he will keep his crown until he sees Birnam Wood move.
Macbeth asks if Banquo's line is destined to reign, but the cauldron disappears suddenly.
As bagpipe music is heard in the background, eight kings appear followed by Banquo with a mirror in his hand.
Macbeth draws his sword and attempts to attack them but he collapses to the ground. Spirits and witches dance around him.
Finally Macbeth comes to again in his wife's arms. The two try to console each other: to keep their hold on power they need only kill Macduff and Banquo's son.

ACT FOUR
On the border dividing Scotland and England, not far from Birnam Wood, Scottish fugitives recall the tragic lot that has befallen their country, oppressed by a bloody tyrant.
Macduff weeps for the loss of his wife and children, slain by Macbeth: he is ready to seek vengeance.
Malcolm arrives, leading a group of English soldiers. He orders his men to hid among the bushes and prepares for the attack.
In the castle, a lady and the doctor watch over Lady Macbeth, who is now in a state of delirium: in her sleep she is tormented by blood on her hands.
In another hall in the castle Macbeth is preparing for the battle. He is sure that he will win, but his heart is oppressed by the sadness of a life lived without piety or love. He is unmoved by the news that his wife has died. Immediately afterwards a group of warriors brings terrible news: Birnam Wood is moving.
Macbeth goes out to do battle.
The English soldiers advance slowly, each one bearing the branch of a tree. Malcolm gives the signal to attack: the men break cover and charge forwards.
Macbeth and Macduff fight face to face. Macduff tells Macbeth that he was torn prematurely from his mother's womb and, as a result, was not born of woman. Macbeth now understands that the witches' second prophecy is as misleading as the first.
The battle rages and a group of Scottish women appear announcing victory. Macduff has killed Macbeth in battle. Malcolm is hailed by all as the new king.

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Análisis de Macbeth de Verdi
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http://www.giuseppeverdi.it