Product Description

Three witches predict not only that Macbeth will become king of Scotland, but also that his fellow general, Banquo, will father a succession of Scottish kings — though Banquo himself will never be crowned. When Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to slay King Duncan and seize the throne of Scotland, Macbeth achieves his ambition, but one murder leads to more. Guilt, retribution, and self-destiny are explored in one of Shakespeare's crowning achievements. Performed by Hugh Ross, Harriet Walter, and the Arkangel cast.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146654 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-10
• Format: Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Audio CD

From AudioFile
MACBETH has a cursed history. A disturbingly large number of actors have been maimed, mugged, and even murdered while performing it--so experiencing it safely via CD is perhaps prudent. This recording is everything one has come to expect from the Arkangel Shakespeare series--solid performances and suitably Scottish voices--but offers little in the way of fresh interpretation. Still, the famous scenes are memorable--from the drama of Lady Macbeth's guilty sleepwalking to the low comedy of the drunken porter at the gates of hell--and remind the listener that even a conventional Macbeth succeeds if it is well acted. D.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Best Yet!
I've been playing this in a regular senior English class. Many of the students are finally understanding the play. The actors in this cd do a wonderful job interpreting their lines. The Scottish accents are well done. Sound effects make it vivid. It's the best production I've found to date.

Great for Classroom Use
This series is wonderful if you are a teacher. It really helps students to hear how Shakespeare's words are supposed to flow when spoken by classically trained actors. Students snicker a bit at first when they hear the Scottish accents, but they get used to them quickly and the quality of the recording is excellent. The cheesy music in between acts is irritating, but you learn to ignore it. A fun bit of trivia is that the porter scene is acted by David Tennant who most people know as the current Dr. Who! It's also a treat to be able to listen to Macbeth in my car. Shakespeare makes rush-hour almost tolerable.

Great Macbeth!
This CD is excellent--the witches are super creepy sounding, and the unabridged text is well performed. Definitely helpful for teaching Macbeth.