VERDI: MACBETH (PAL)

Giuseppe Verdi
Macbeth

THOMAS HAMPSON
Paoletta Marrocu
Roberto Scandiuzzi
Luis Lima

Chor des Opernhauses Zürich
Orchester der Oper Zürich,
FRANZ WELSER-MÖST

Stage Director: David Pountney

Picture Format: 16:9, 2 DVDs
Sound Format: LPCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Running Time: 141 mins (opera) / 45 mins (bonus)
Region Code: PAL 2
Subtitles Languages: GB, F, D, I, E
Recording Date: Opernhaus Zürich, 2001
Bonus: Macbeth – An Introduction (doc)
Territory: Europe and Japan only

Cat. No: DV-OPMAC

Shakespeare’s drama on the Scottish nobleman Macbeth who is corrupted by power and loses his wife, sanity and finally his life to his ambitions is one of the greatest plays of world literature. Although the work was simplified for the opera libretto, its core – a mixture of the realistic and the supernatural – has remained intact.

TDK presents an overwhelmingly powerful staging, by star director David Pountney who is known for his lush, psychological plausible and realistic stage inventions. One of the most challenging features in Macbeth is the constant change between the real world and the supernatural. Pountney does not so much make a difference between the levels of reality but sees the apparitions and visions of Macbeth as an integral part of his personal reality and very much the driving force behind his decision-making.

Filmed closely and almost movie-like, this DVD production portrays to full extent the excellent singing and acting prowess of American star baritone Thomas Hampson, who creates the despair of the power-hungry Macbeth with intensity.

Please note that this DVD has been repackaged and re-released for 2005.