8/11/2019 Macbeth Synopsis MET Opera

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LIVE IN HD DIRECTOR

Gary Halvorson

CONDUCTOR

Fabio LuisiPRODUCTION

Adrian NobleSET & COSTUME DESIGNER

Mark TompsonLIGHTING DESIGNER

Jean KalmanCHOREOGRAPHER

Sue Lefon

LIVE IN HD HOST

Anita Rachvelishvili

CAST IN ORDER OF

VOCAL APPEARANCE

MACBETH

eljko LuiBANQUO

Ren PapeLADY MACBETH

Anna NetrebkoLADY-IN-WAITING TO LADY MACBETH

Claudia WaiteA SERVANT OF MACBETH

Christopher JobDUNCAN, KING OF SCOTLAND

Raymond RenaultMALCOLM, DUNCANS SON

Noah BaetgeMACDUFF, THANE OF FIFE

Joseph CallejaFLEANCE, BANQUOS SON

Moritz LinnA MURDERER

Richard BernsteinA HERALD

Seth MalkinA DOCTOR

James CourtneyAPPARITIONS:

A WARRIOR

David CrawordA BLOODY CHILD

Ashley EmersonA CROWNED CHILD

Jihee Kim

ACT I Scotland. Macbeth and Banquo, leaders of the Scottisharmy, meet a group of witches who prophesy the future. They

address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland, andtell Banquo that he will be the father of kings. The two men tryto learn more, but the witches vanish. Messengers arrive withnews that Duncan, the current king of Scotland, has made Mac-beth Thane of Cawdor. The first part of the witches predictionhas come true.

In Macbeths castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her hus-band telling her of the events that have just transpired. Sheresolves to follow her ambitions. A servant announces that Dun-can will soon arrive at the castle, and when Macbeth enters, shetells him that they must kill the king. Duncan arrives. Macbethhas a vision of a dagger, then leaves to commit the murder. Onhis return, he tells his wife how the act has frightened him, and

she tells him that he needs more courage. They both leave asBanquo enters with Macduff, a nobleman, who discovers themurder. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pretend to be horrifiedand join the others in condemning the murder.

ACT II Macbeth has become king. Duncans son, Malcolm, issuspected of having killed his father and has fled to England.Worried about the prophecy that Banquos children will rule,Macbeth and his wife now plan to kill him and his son, Fleance,as well. As Macbeth leaves to prepare the double murder, LadyMacbeth hopes that it will finally make the throne secure.

Outside the castle, assassins wait for Banquo, who appears withhis son, warning him of strange forebodings. Banquo is killed,but Fleance escapes.

Lady Macbeth welcomes the cour t to the banquet hall and singsa drinking song, while Macbeth receives news that Banquo isdead and his son has escaped. About to take Banquos seat atthe table, Macbeth has a terrifying vision of the dead man accus-ing him. His wife is unable to calm her unsettled husband, andthe courtiers wonder about the kings strange behavior. Macduffvows to leave the country, which is now r uled by criminals.

INTERMISSION

ACT III The witches gather again, and Macbeth visits them,demanding more prophecies. Apparitions warn him to bewareof Macduff and assure him that no man of woman born canharm him, and that he will be invincible until Birnam Wood

marches on his castle. In another vision, he sees a procession offuture kings, followed by Banquo. Horrified, Macbeth collapses.

The witches disappear and his wife finds him. They resolve to killMacduff and his family.

ACT IV On the Scottish border, Macduff has joined the refugees.His wife and children have been killed. Malcolm appears withBritish troops and leads them to invade Scotland.

Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, haunted by the horrors of whatshe and her husband have done.

Macbeth awaits the arrival of his enemies and realizes that hewill never live to a peaceful old age. Messengers bring news thatLady Macbeth has died, and that Birnam Wood appears to bemoving. English soldiers appear, camouflaged with its branches.Macduff confronts Macbeth and tells him that he was not bornnaturally but had a Caesarean birth. He kills Macbeth and pro-claims Malcolm king of Scotland.

Production a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Montrone

Additional funding from Mr. and Mrs. William R. Miller;Hermione Foundation, Laura Sloate, Trustee; andThe Gilbert S. Kahn & John J. Noffo Kahn Endowment Fund

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GIUSEPPE VERDI

OCTOBER 11, 2014