Credits:

Giuseppe Sabbatini

Description:

Verdis (18131901) mid-career masterpiece, *Macbeth*, is based on Shakespeares play of the same name. It is said that Verdi, though feeling unwell at the time, was forced to work on several pieces simultaneously and was in a state of turmoil, even taking his frustrations out on the librettist Piave. Although the 1847 premiere was a moderate success, it received scathing reviews from some media outlets, and it seems Verdi did not consider it his finest work. Consequently, 18 years later, he undertook a major revision, refining it to perfection. This tragedy, which depicts an ambitious couple who seize power but ultimately fall from grace, unable to bear the pangs of their conscience, draws not only on the brilliance of Shakespeares original play but also benefits from the synergy created by Verdis music, which is brimming with tension. In the 20132014 season, this new production of *Macbeth