Home page Macbeth The 2007 production from Preston Opera was the Verdi masterpiece Macbeth. It was presented in the Guild Hall and took advantage of the stage area and the vast open floor space. The full orchestra was stationed on the open floor in front of the stage. The area between the audience and the orchestra was used to great advantage in the witches scenes, the murder of Banquo and the battle of Birnam wood. Robin Newton was again the Musical Director and Conductor and Helen Andrews was the Orchestra Leader.  This Grand Opera was produced in the grand manner by Geoff Horton  The pictures are "stills" from a video of the Saturday performance. Watch out for the links to video clips

The scary witches dance around their cauldron and surprise Macbeth and Banquo with their predictions.

 

Macbeth (Paul Gibson) hears he is soon to be King, and then Banquo (Duncan Gorwood) inquires as to his future.

 

Lady Macbeth (Laura Hudson) reads a letter from her husband and immediately plans to facilitate the death of King Duncan. Her descent into evil and madness begins!

 

 

Macbeth is urged into murderous action and his imagination goes into overdrive: "Is this a dagger I see before me....?"

 

Banquo and Macduff report the dreadful deed: "The murderer has killed the King of Scotland"  Video Double Click on the play arrow

 

The lifeless body of King Duncan is paraded before the company. The horrified courtiers pray that the vengeance of heaven fall upon the evil ones. Lady Macbeth is untroubled but Macbeth has doubts.

 

The descent of the Macbeths into madness and evil takes a step further. They decide that Banquo must also die.

 

In both the quality of her voice and the skill of her acting Laura became a true realization of this key character of Verdi's tragedy.

 

 

Banquo with son Fleance. He knows they are both in mortal danger since the witches predicted that his descendents would be kings.

 

 

Macbeth has been crowned King. The courtiers attend a banquet in his honour.

The leader of Macbeth's gang of cutthroats (Geoff Hitchen) reports that Banquo has been killed but is son has escaped.

Macbeth's mind begins to disintegrate. He alone sees the ghost of the murdered Banquo.

Lady Macbeth, clearly made of stronger stuff, lightens the mood with a jolly drinking song.

Lady Macbeth tries to stiffen the resolve of her husband and continues to entertain the guests.

 

Macbeth resolves to return to the witches. Lady Macbeth brands him a coward. Macduff (Kevin Matthews) realises the King is now a madman. The chorus agrees that madmen and thieves rule the country.

 

 

Macbeth visits the witches and is shown several apparitions who declare that: "Beware Macduff but no man born of woman can harm you" "No harm can come till Birnam wood begins to move"

 

Macbeth is also shown a parade of future kings followed by the ghost of Banquo holding a mirror.

 

Macbeth's rule has brought poverty and terror to his Scottish subjects.

 

Macduff appears and promises to help rid them of the tyrant.

 

 

The late King Duncan's son Malcolm (David Griffiths) appears with an army of English soldiers. He orders them to hide behind branches cut from Birnam wood! Macduff and Malcolm join forces against Macbeth.

 

 

Now even Lady Macbeth's concience is giving trouble. She can't sleep and hallucinates. She sure has lots of blood on her hands!

 

No, she can't get that blood off her hands.

 

Macbeth seems to have regained some of his reason. However, he does not fear the coming battle. He is told of the death of Lady Macbeth but does not seem to care.

 

Macbeth and Macduff finally cross swords. Macbeth is really miffed when Macduff tells him that he was born by Caesarian section! ("They cut me from my mother's womb") The woods of Birnam appear to move and Macbeth's army is defeated.  The witches prophecies are fulfilled.

 

The good guys win and the bad guy is killed. The people rejoice at the accession of Malcolm.

 

A group of the male chorus in the Act 4 finale.

 

The final ensemble with Macduff and King Malcolm at the front and the flags of England and Scotland framing the scene.

 

 

Laura, Paul and Duncan take a well deserved bow.

 

Laura acknowledges the Orchestra.

 

 

Click here to return to top of page