Macbeth (Verdi: Macbeth). Baritone. An army general, married to Lady Macbeth. He is a weak man, dominated by his wife. At his meeting with the Witches at the beginning of the opera, he is told that he will become king of Scotland, but that Banquo, who will never himself be king, will beget future kings of Scotland. Macbeth and his wife decide to eliminate the opposition. Duncan, the present king, having already declared Macbeth thane of Cawdor, is the first to be killed. Macbeth, at his wife's instigation, kills him in his bed but is too unnerved to take the bloody dagger he used back to the body to make it look as if a servant has done the deed. Next, Banquo and his heirs must die. Banquo is assassinated, but his son escapes. Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost sitting at his table. He again consults the Witches and hears their other prophecies about his immunity from death. After his wife sleepwalks and talks of their terrible deeds, he is given news of her death. Riddled with guilt, his behaviour is becoming more and more erratic. As the English army advances, the troops covered in tree branches, Macbeth sees the whole of Birnam Wood apparently ‘moving’. He is killed by Macduff, and Duncan's son, Malcolm, makes a triumphant return to claim the throne. Duet (with Lady Macbeth): Tutto è finito! Fatal mia donna! (‘It is done! My fateful lady’ - the original Lady Macbeth recorded that there were 151 rehearsals of this duet before Verdi was satisfied that the singers had got it right). Created (1847) by Felice Varesi.