Macbeth

Revival of 2008 production Macbeth is a successful warrior – the hero of his king, Duncan, whose enemies he has routed in battle. But seduced by a dark prophecy that foretells of greater things for him, and goaded by his wife, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition. Having murdered the king and seized power he discovers that, to keep it, more and more blood must be spilt. Caught in a spiral of escalating violence, Macbeth and his lady descend into madness and despair. ‘One of mankind’s greatest creations’ is how Verdi described Shakespeare’s play. Determined to transmute the weirdness and ferocity of the original into music, he aimed to create a work of ‘extravagance and originality’. He succeeded, producing a gripping music drama, of which the famous chorus ‘Patria oppressa!’ is but one of many highlights.