Conductor: Diego García Rodríguez (Spain)
Director: Marco Spada (Italy)
Set design: Mauro Tinti (Italy) 
Costume design: Rade Vasilev 
Concert master: 
Ass director: Trajko Jordanovski, Ljupka Jakimovska 
Inspectives: Ljupcho Polizov, Dragan Kostadinovikj, Marko Pavlevski
Suflers: Pavlina Zdravkova, Nevena Georgieva

CAST:

Macbeth: Boris Trajanov 
Lady Macbeth: Vesna Gjinovska Ilkova 
Banko: Aleksandar Stefanoski 
Macduuff: Nikola Stojcheski 
Lady: Katerina Miteva 
Malcom: Dejan Stoev 
Doctor: Dime Petrov 
Macbeth’s servant: Borko Bidzovski 
Herald: Marko Gapo
Traitor: Dimitar Kozuharov

Performing choir and the orchestra of the National Opera & Ballet

MACBETH – Giuseppe Verdi

Synopsis

I Act

After the victory over the rebels, Macbeth the victorious general of the king of Scotland returns home. Upon his return in the woods, during a great storm he encounters witches that will tell him the prophecy that he is to be the next king. They also tell of his violent death. The prophecy makes Macbeth consider taking the power by force. His wife Lady Macbeth, seeing the opportunity of becoming queen, urges him to kill the king and take over the throne and lead the kingdom.

Scene change: In their castle, Macbeth and his wife agree on inviting the king who is hunting nearby to stay the night. King Duncan accepts the invitation hoping that it will lead to family reunion (Macbeth is his nephew) and also he wants to reward his general for the recent victories. With his entourage he arrives at Macbeth’s castle, without any idea about the conspiracy brewing against him.

II Act

In the clear and quiet night a gruesome violence happens. Macbeth helped by his wife murders King Duncan. They exit to the courtyard where the other generals await objecting to the idea of proclaiming Macbeth as their King. Macbeth calls upon the mercenaries who kill his opponents. The remaining noblemen, fearing for their lives succumb to Macbeth, and crown him King.  Macbeth, now king, remembers the witches’ prophecy and fears that his destiny might be the same as the one of the king he murdered.

III Act

Macbeth prepares his coronation celebrations, but all noblemen do not attend. They consider him to be a villain and tyrant against whom the sons of the slayed king are preparing a conspiracy which will take him off the throne. The present noblemen are flattering the newly crowned king, but they are in fear for their safety. They know Macbeth is in constant fear of vengeance and is prepared to kill anyone he doubts is his loyal servant. Macbeth’s fear and insecurity make him a cruel ruler, but also a disturbed man with constant visions. His wife goes through a similar horror- continuously seeing the ghosts of the man she encouraged to be murdered, and haunted by them she experiences madness and commits suicide.

IV Act

Macbeth is given the news of his wife’s death. Aware of the fact that she is also a victim of their greediness for power, he is gravely saddened.  He also receives news that the rule of opposing noblemen led by Duncan’s son is coming to the castle to regain power. In despair, Macbeth turns to the witches for advice. They tell him that he cannot be harmed by a man ‘born of woman’, and that he cannot be conquered till Birnam Wood marches against him.

However, the prophecy does come true. The army is led by Macduff who has not been born but taken out of the womb of his dying mother forcefully. The army is camouflaged in branches from the Birnam wood- so hence it looks like the Wood marches towards Macbeth.

Macbeth’s army can’t fight the approaching enemy, and Macduff pursues and fights Macbeth who falls wounded. He tells Macbeth that he was not “born of woman” but “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Macduff returns indicating to his men that he has killed Macbeth. He then turns to Malcolm, son of Duncan hailing him as King. The scene ends with a hymn to victory sung by bards, soldiers, and Scottish women praising Malcolm as King, and Macduff a hero.