Macbeth (c. 1005-1057)

King of Scotland from 1040. The son of Findlaech, hereditary ruler of Moray and Ross, he was commander of the forces of Duncan I, King of Scotland, whom he killed in battle in 1040. His reign was prosperous until Duncan's son Malcolm III led an invasion and killed him at Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire.

He was probably the grandson of Kenneth II and married Gruoch, the granddaughter of Kenneth III.

Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth was based on the 16th-century historian Holinshed's Chronicles.

Macbeth

Tragedy by William Shakespeare, first performed in 1605-06. Acting on a prophecy by three witches that he will be king of Scotland, Macbeth, egged on by Lady Macbeth, murders King Duncan and becomes king but is eventually killed by Macduff. The play was based on the 16th-century historian Holinshed's Chronicles.

Macbeth

Incidental music by Locke for Davenant's version of Shakespeare's play, produced in London at the Dorset Gardens Theatre, summer 1674. There were later productions with music by D Purcell, Eccles, Leveridge.

Opera by Bloch (libretto by E Fleg, after Shakespeare), produced at the Paris, Opéra-Comique, 30 November 1910.

Opera by Collingwood (libretto by composer, chosen from Shakespeare), produced at Sadler's Wells, London, 12 April 1934.

Opera by Verdi (libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and A Maffei, after Shakespeare), produced at the Teatro della Pergola, Florence, 14 March 1847; revised version (French libretto by C Nuitter and A Beaumont) produced at the Théâtre Lyrique, Paris, 21 April 1865. Lady Macbeth takes centre stage in the Italian version.

Overture by Spohr, Op. 75.

Symphonic poem by Richard Strauss, Op. 23, composed 1886-87, revised 1890, first performed at Weimar, 13 September 1890.