Opera on 3: Verdi's Macbeth

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Opera on 3

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Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances

Programme presenting rare and fascinating performances and vividly communicating the immediacy of the live experience

Verdi's Macbeth

BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, Verdi's Macbeth

Simon Keenlyside stars as the anti-hero in Verdi's take on the great Shakespeare tragedy.

Vaulting ambition spells toil and trouble for Simon Keenlyside in the title role of Verdi's first Shakespearean opera. Daniele Rustioni conducts at the Royal Opera House.

Dark forces are at work. Prophesy unhinges and torments, and the milk of human kindness curdles as a merciless fate gives no quarter to those in thrall to ambition.

Macbeth is one of Verdi’s most dramatic and atmospheric scores, testament to his profound understanding of Shakespeare. In this acclaimed production by Phyllida Lloyd the title role is taken by one of Britain's most celebrated singer-actors, baritone Simon Keenlyside. Together with the extraordinary Naples-born coloratura soprano Anna Pirozzi as Lady Macbeth, they make a blood-soaked couple whose invitation to stay at their castle is best avoided. Indeed do 'Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.'

Recorded last month and presented by Martin Handley in conversation with Bristol University's Sarah Hibberd, expert in nineteenth-century Italian musical culture.

Verdi: Macbeth

Acts 1 & 2

7.55 pm
Interval
Including contributions from conductor Daniele Rustioni and Simon Keenlyside.

8.15 pm
Acts 3 & 4

Macbeth.....Simon Keenlyside (baritone)
Banquo.....Günther Groissböck (bass)
Lady Macbeth.....Anna Pirozzi (soprano)
Lady-in-waiting.....April Koyejo-Audiger (mezzo-soprano)
Servant to Macbeth.....John Bernays (bass)
Macduff.....David Junghoon Kim (tenor)
Malcolm.....Egor Zhuravskii (tenor)
Assassin.....Olle Zetterström (bass)
First apparition.....John Morrissey (bass)
Second apparition.....Jimmy Frow (treble)
Third apparition.....Alfie Davis (treble)
Herald.....Jonathan Fisher (bass)
Doctor.....Blaise Malaba (bass)
Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Daniele Rustioni (conductor)

Image: © ROH 2021 / Clive Barda

SYNOPSIS
Act 1
In a raging thunderstorm, three groups of witches appear and describe their evil deeds.
Macbeth and Banquo, two generals in King Duncan’s army, approach. 
The witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor
and King of Scotland; they hail Banquo as the father of future kings.
Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband telling her of his victory in battle and of
the witches’ prophecy. She resolves to help him fulfil it. 
Macbeth arrives at the castle ahead of Duncan and husband and wife quickly agree to murder
their King.  As Macbeth waits, a vision of a dagger appears to him.
He ignores the omen but, having committed the murder, is then
filled with doubt and remorse. His wife accuses him of cowardice. She snatches the dagger and smears the king’s sleeping guards with blood
in order to incriminate them. It is nearly dawn, and Macduff and Banquo arrive at the castle. 
Macduff discovers the murder and the household vow vengeance on the unknown assassin.
ACT 2
Macbeth is now King of Scotland and Duncan’s son Malcolm, blamed for his father’s
death, has fled to England. Fearing the witches’ prophecy that Banquo would be the
father of kings, Macbeth and his wife now plot to kill him and his son.
Banquo is murdered but Fleance escapes. As Macbeth
comments publicly on his friend’s absence, the ghost of Banquo appears to him. Lady
Macbeth tries to calm her husband. But when Banquo’s ghost appears for a second time,
Lady Macbeth is unable to disguise her husband’s ravings. Macbeth decides to visit the witches again.
Act III
On a stormy night the witches brew their magic potions. Macbeth
arrives and asks them to prophesy his destiny. In response they conjure up three apparitions
who, in turn, tell him to beware Macduff, that he need fear ‘none born of woman’ and that
he will be invincible until Birnam Wood marches on his castle. The witches then summon
apparitions of kings, whom Macbeth recognizes as Banquo and his descendants. Macbeth faints and the 
witches dance round him, then disappear. Macbeth recovers; Lady Macbeth enters and he tells her what he has seen.
They resolve to exterminate all their enemies.
Act IV
Refugees lament the suffering of their oppressed homeland and its wretched people.
Macduff is distraught at the murder of his wife and his children. Malcolm arrives, leading a
troop of English soldiers, and urges Macduff to find comfort in exacting revenge. Together, Malcolm and Macduff
rally the refugees, urging them to join forces in attacking Macbeth. A doctor and lady-in-waiting
listen as Lady Macbeth, who has taken to sleepwalking, describes and relives the atrocities she and her husband have committed.
Macbeth awaits the advancing troops and hardly reacts when news is brought of his wife’s death. 
When soldiers announce that Birnam Wood is on the move –  English soldiers carrying
branches are advancing – he recalls the third apparition’s prophecy. In the ensuing battle, 
Macbeth and Macduff are brought face to face. 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 is killed. To the sound of a hymn of victory. Malcolm is proclaimed King.
© ROH 2021

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