Verdi: Macbeth (French Version) - Teatro Regio Di Parma (2024) [Blu-ray]

Verdi: Macbeth (French Version: Paris 1865)

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, telling the story of a power couple galvanised by witchcraft and superstition, and obsessed by a craving to conquer the throne by force, even by murder. This French version of Verdi's opera takes us into a sphere of decorum and decency that hides monsters capable of the worst atrocities, portrayed in some of the composer's most blood-curdling and intense passages of music. A genuine rarity on stage, this 2024 production of the French version was acclaimed for it's powerful vocal performances and fine acting.

As we know, Verdi based the French version on the Italian score of Macbeth which was performed in Florence in 1847, and made ample revisions beginning in 1864. Verdi wrote the following to his publisher, Tito Ricordi, in a letter dated November 2, 1864:

“Now the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris wants to do Macbeth translated in French. They’ve asked me to compose arias for dances, and make some changes that I would love to extend to other parts as well, in order to give the opera more character.”