Shakespeare
Other operas based on plays by Shakespeare:
Otello (Othello) - Giuseppe Verdi
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Benjamin Britten
Anthony and Cleopatra - Samuel Barber
Macbeth - Giuseppe Verdi
Information about the opera Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Recommended recordings on CD
Abbado/Cappuccilli/Verrett (Deutsche Grammophon 449 732-2)
A meticulous performance of the uncut score, with an excellent cast.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Claudio Abbado, 1976.
Cast: Piero Cappuccilli (Macbeth), Shirley Verrett (Lady Macbeth), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Banquo), Plácido Domingo (Macduff).
Deutsche Grammophon 449 732-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Pappano/Keenlyside/Monastryrska (Opus Arte OA 1063 D)
Phyllida Lloyd's Royal Opera House production of Verdi’s opera takes the reign of blood as its theme in this thrilling recording.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Cast: Simon Keenlyside (Macbeth), Liudmyla Monastryrska (Lady Macbeth), Raymond Aceto (Banquo), Dmitri Pittas (Macduff).
Opus Arte OA 1063 D
Callegari/Altomare/Zhuravel (Naxos DVD 2.110258)
A good production with adequate singing.
Marchigiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Marchigiana Vincenzo Bellini Lyric Chorus, conducted by Daniele Callegari, 2007.
Cast: Giuseppe Altomare (Macbeth), Olha Zhuravel (Lady Macbeth), Pavel Kudinov (Banquo), Rubens Pelizzari (Macduff).
Naxos DVD 2.110258
Campanella/Alvarez/Guleghina (Opus Arte OA 0922 D)
Recorded live at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 2004.
Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, Chorus of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, conducted by Bruno Campanella, 2004.
Cast: Carlos Alvarez (Macbeth), Maria Guleghina (Lady Macbeth), Roberto Scandiuzzi (Banquo), Marco Berti (Macduff).
Opus Arte OA 0922 D
Pritchard/Paskalis/Barstow (Arthaus Musik 101 095)
From a 1972 production at Glyndebourne.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus, Glyndebourne Ballet, conducted by John Pritchard.
Cast: Kostas Paskalis (Macbeth), Dame Josephine Barstow (Lady Macbeth), James Morris (Banquo), Keith Erwen (Macduff).
Arthaus Musik 101 095