Macbeth
Synopsis
Claude D'Anna's film of Verdi's Macbeth is a gloomy affair, stressing the descent into madness of the principal villains. It's acted by the singers of the Decca recording of the opera (with two substitutions of actors standing in for singers) and the lip-synching is generally unobtrusive. The musical performance is superb, conducted by Riccardo Chailly with admirable fire, and sung by some of the leading lights of the opera stages of the 1980s. Shirley Verrett virtually owned the role of Lady Macbeth at the time, and she delivers a terrific performance, the voice equal to the role's wide register leaps and it's suffused with emotion, whether urging her husband on to murder or maddened by guilt in the Sleepwalking Scene. Leo Nucci's resonant Macbeth may lack the ultimate in vocal color and steadiness (his last notes of the great aria Pietà, rispetto, amore are wobbly) but he compensates with intensity in both singing and acting.
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Claude d'Anna
- Screenplay & Story
- Francesco Maria Piave
- Original Score
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Original Title
- Macbeth
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- Italian
- Runtime
- 2h 13m
- Production Studios
- Deutsche Grammophon
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Claude d'Anna
Francesco Maria Piave
Giuseppe Verdi
Henry Lange
Department Leadership Roster
Henry Lange
Producer
Francesco Maria Piave
Writer
Giuseppe Verdi
Original Music Composer
Claude d'Anna
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Macbeth.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Macbeth
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Macbeth about?
Claude D'Anna's film of Verdi's Macbeth is a gloomy affair, stressing the descent into madness of the principal villains. It's acted by the singers of the Decca recording of the opera (with two substitutions of actors standing in for singers) and the lip-synching is generally unobtrusive. The musical performance is superb, conducted by Riccardo Chailly with admirable fire, and sung by some of the leading lights of the opera stages of the 1980s. Shirley Verrett virtually owned the role of Lady Macbeth at the time, and she delivers a terrific performance, the voice equal to the role's wide register leaps and it's suffused with emotion, whether urging her husband on to murder or maddened by guilt in the Sleepwalking Scene. Leo Nucci's resonant Macbeth may lack the ultimate in vocal color and steadiness (his last notes of the great aria Pietà, rispetto, amore are wobbly) but he compensates with intensity in both singing and acting.
Who directed Macbeth?
Macbeth was directed by Claude d'Anna.
Who stars in Macbeth?
The principal cast of Macbeth includes Leo Nucci, Shirley Verrett, Samuel Ramey, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Veriano Luchetti.
When was Macbeth released and how long is it?
Macbeth was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 2h 13m.
Who composed the musical score for Macbeth?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Macbeth was composed by Giuseppe Verdi.