Verdi: Macbeth

In early 11th-century Scotland, at Macbeth’s castle. During a storm, in a Scottish wood, witches gather to hatch sinister plots. They hear Macbeth and Banquo approaching—Scottish nobles fighting for their king, Duncan—and decide to target Macbeth. Macbeth has become king, but he confides to his wife his fears of having to shed more blood—that of Banquo, who suspects the truth, and of his sons... “Macbeth” is a four-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi, with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei, based on William Shakespeare’s eponymous tragedy. The music was composed between 1846 and 1847. Piave’s libretto is based on Carlo Rusconi’s prose translation, published in Turin in 1838. The opera premiered at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence on March 14, 1847. From the box set “Tutto Verdi,” featuring 27 of Verdi’s operas. Recorded live at the Teatro Regio in Parma on October 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, and 17, 2006.

Directed by —, Verdi: Macbeth leans on a strong ensemble — Leo Nucci, Enrich Giuseppe Iori, Sylvia Valayre — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2006.