Macbeth 101 – Characters and Plot
After more than a quarter century (and for the first time in The Ellie) Macbeth returns to Opera Colorado this fall. Verdi’s take on Shakespeare’s epic tale of power and ambition is the perfect capstone to spooky season, and you do not want to miss it. We invite you to read how this story unfolds before you see it told through opera at The Ellie this fall.
Looking for the gist of the opera? Check out the Brief Version. If you want to understand more of the intricacies of Macbeth, read through the Full Plot.
Performances of Macbeth will take place this November 7, 10, 13, and 15. Tickets are on sale now.
Content Advisory:
In the interest of sensitivity, we want to alert our audience to some potentially upsetting themes in the story of Macbeth. In this particular blog, the following themes will appear in The Brief Version and The Full Plot sections: Violence, death, murder, and suicide.
The Details of Macbeth
Composer – Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).
Librettists – Francesco Maria Piave (1810-1876) and Andrea Maffei (1798-1885).
Premiere – March 14, 1847 in Florence, Italy at Teatro della Pergola (Revised version: April 21, 1865 in Paris, France at Théâtre Lyrique).
Setting – Scotland, 11th Century.
Source – The Tragedy of Macbeth, stage play by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).
The Characters of Macbeth
Macbeth (baritone) – The Thane of Glamis, a general in King Duncan’s army and husband to Lady Macbeth. Played by Norman Garrett, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Lady Macbeth (soprano) – The ambitious wife of Macbeth who has nothing to lose in her quest for power. Played by Marcy Stonikas, returning to Opera Colorado after playing Senta in our 2024 production of The Flying Dutchman.
Macduff (tenor) – The Thane of Fife, loyal follower of King Duncan. Played by Edward Graves, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Banquo (bass) – A captain in Duncan’s army who is friends with Macbeth, having fought alongside him. Played by Kenneth Kellogg, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Malcolm (tenor) – The eldest son of King Duncan and heir to the throne. Played by Matthew Plenk, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Doctor (bass) – A physician called to assist Lady Macbeth with her sleepwalking. Played by Wei Wu, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Lady-in-Waiting (mezzo-soprano) – Loyal servant of Lady Macbeth. Played by Xiao Xiao, one of our 2026-27 Resident Artists, making her Opera Colorado debut.
Three Apparitions (two sopranos, one bass) – Conjured by the witches to answer Macbeth’s questions about his future. The first apparition is an armed head, played by Mason O’Brien, one of our 2026-27 Resident Artists last seen at The Ellie as Prince Yamadori in our 2026 production of Madama Butterfly. The second apparition is a bloody child, played by Emily Thompson, one of our 2026-27 Resident Artists who is making her Opera Colorado debut. The third apparition is a child crowned, played by Bridget Ravenscraft, one of our 2026-27 Resident Artists last seen at The Ellie as Annina in our 2025 production of La traviata.
More Characters: Herald (bass), Assassin (bass), King Duncan (silent), Fleance (silent), Witches (chorus), Lady Macduff (silent) and more.
The Brief Version of Macbeth
Act One:
Witches predict that Macbeth, a victorious Scottish captain, will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland, while Banquo will father future kings. When Macbeth is immediately named Thane of Cawdor, he starts to think even bigger. Lady Macbeth seizes on the prophecy and gets Macbeth to murder King Duncan and then she frames Duncan’s men. After Macduff and Banquo discover the king’s body, the castle’s inhabitants vow to avenge his death.
Act Two:
Now King of Scotland, Macbeth has Banquo murdered to prevent the witches’ prophecy about Banquo’s heirs, but Banquo’s son Fleance escapes. At the coronation feast, Banquo’s ghost drives Macbeth into a public breakdown despite Lady Macbeth’s efforts to calm him, arousing Macduff’s suspicions and frightening everyone. Macbeth resolves to seek more answers from the witches.
Act Three:
The witches show Macbeth apparitions warning him about Macduff while assuring him that no one born of woman can harm him and that he will remain safe until Birnam Wood marches on his castle. They also reveal Banquo’s descendants as future kings before disappearing. Lady Macbeth revives the collapsed Macbeth’s murderous resolve, and they decide to kill Macduff’s family.
Act Four:
As Scottish refugees mourn Macbeth’s tyranny and the murder of Macduff’s family, Malcolm arrives with English forces and urges Macduff to seek revenge. Lady Macbeth is tormented by guilt and sleepwalks, while Macbeth trusts the witches’ assurances until Malcolm’s army advances disguised with branches from Birnam Wood. Macduff reveals that he was surgically removed from his mother’s womb, kills Macbeth, and proclaims Malcolm king.
The Full Plot of Macbeth
Scotland in the 11th Century
Macbeth — Act One
Witches gather in the woods when Macbeth and Banquo stumble upon them after a fierce battle. The witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor and soon-to-be King of Scotland, and they tell Banquo he is the father of future kings. Messengers arrive to announce that King Duncan has granted Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor and Macbeth begins to reflect on ascending the throne of all Scotland.
In Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth telling her of his victory in battle and of the witches’ vision. Seizing the opportunity to attain power, she resolves to help him fulfill the prophecy. When King Duncan arrives, she urges Macbeth to go and kill Duncan in his sleep. Plagued by visions, he kills Duncan but returns bloody and wracked with guilt. Lady Macbeth accuses him of lacking courage and frames Duncan’s men with the murder. Macduff and Banquo arrive at the castle and discover the dead king and rouse the castle. Everyone vows to avenge the murder of their monarch.
Macbeth — Act Two
Macbeth now sits upon the throne as King of Scotland. Duncan’s son, Malcolm, has been blamed for his father’s death and has fled to England. Because the witches prophesied that Banquo’s sons would become kings, Macbeth and his wife now plot to secure their claim to the throne and have Banquo killed. Assassins wait in the dark. Banquo and his son Fleance arrive. Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes.
Guests arrive to the coronation festivities at the castle. After Lady Macbeth delivers a toast, Macbeth laments Banquo’s absence. He goes to sit in Banquo’s empty chair in honor of him but is met with Banquo’s ghost. The guests watch as Macbeth appears to lose his sanity and Lady Macbeth tries in vain to calm him. Macduff becomes suspicious as the Scottish people are filled with fear. Macbeth decides to force more answers out of the witches.
Macbeth — Act Three
The witches invoke the spirits with their magic potions. Macbeth arrives and demands them to show him the future. They conjure three apparitions who warn him to beware of Macduff, that he need not fear anyone “born of woman,” and that none can defeat him until Birnam Wood marches on his castle. The witches then summon another vision of dead Banquo siring a long line of kings. The witches disappear and Lady Macbeth discovers her husband who has collapsed. She rouses his murderous instinct once more as they resolve that Macduff’s family should be killed.
Macbeth — Act Four
On the border of Scotland and England, Scottish refugees fleeing the tyrant Macbeth lament the suffering of their oppressed homeland and its wretched people. Macduff’s family have been killed. Malcolm arrives, leading a troop of English soldiers. He encourages Macduff to seek revenge.
In the castle, a doctor and lady-in-waiting listen in horror as Lady Macbeth, who is sleepwalking, relives the horrendous acts she and her husband have committed. Macbeth is in his castle awaiting the advancing troops, assured of his invincibility. Macduff and Malcolm use the cut-down branches of Birnam Wood to approach Macbeth’s castle under cover. This prophecy fulfilled, Macduff reveals to Macbeth that he was surgically removed from his mother’s womb. He kills Macbeth and proclaims Malcolm as king.
Are you ready to see Macbeth live?
This is the kind of story that opera is made for. Witness the chilling drama November 7, 10, 13, and 15.
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Let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing onstage in Macbeth in the comments below!