Christopher Gordon: Macbeth
A cinematic descent into Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy
The album
A standalone score for a tragedy
Originally commissioned as a full-length ballet by the Royal New Zealand Ballet and West Australian Ballet, Macbeth is Christopher Gordon’s compelling musical response to one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most enduring tragedies.
Premiered to critical acclaim in 2026, this ambitious work now receives its first standalone album release on Madfish.
Drawing together progressive rock, contemporary orchestral writing and jazz influences into a richly cinematic score, Macbeth traces the psychological descent of its central characters across eight expansive movements. Gordon balances moments of immense power with passages of striking intimacy, capturing the tension, ambition and fatalism at the heart of Shakespeare’s play.
Recorded and mixed at Sydney’s Trackdown Studios.
Watch
Album trailer
Eight movements
Tracklist
- 01The Battle Lost and Won6:23
- 02This Night's Great Business5:22
- 03If It Were Done6:05
- 04Night's Black Agents5:23
- 05The Banquet10:51
- 06Something Wicked This Way Comes4:47
- 07Out Damned Spot3:28
- 08Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow7:53
The recording
Guest musicians
An extraordinary international cast, joined by Sydney’s Magic Fire Orchestra, the acclaimed Cantillation choir, a string octet and distinguished soloists under Gordon’s direction.
- Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, The Pineapple ThiefGavin Harrison
- The Flower Kings, Steve Hackett, KarmakanicJonas Reingold
- Steven WilsonRandy McStine
- Protocol 4, DarWin, Michael JacksonGreg Howe
- DarWinMohini Dey
- AyreonMarcel Coenen
- Toehider, AyreonMichael Mills
- OrchestraMagic Fire Orchestra
- ChoirCantillation
Physical editions
Vinyl and CD
Pre-order vinyl, CD and digital from the official Madfish store and retailers.
Stars, hide your fires. Let not light see my black and deep desires.
Macbeth, Act I Scene IV
Macbeth
On stage
A bold and bloody re-telling of Macbeth marked the start of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2026 season, bringing this most visceral of tragedies to the stage in an explosion of high-octane contemporary ballet.
Choreographer Alice Topp (Paragon, Aurum, Logos) brings naked ambition, political power and transgression to the fore in this new, original staging, propelling Shakespeare’s iconic characters into a shadowy world of manipulation by media, boardroom intrigue and sudden violence.
Premiere stage credits
- Choreographer
- Alice Topp
- Music
- Christopher Gordon
- Dramaturgy
- Ruth Little
- Costume Design
- Aleisa Jelbart
- Set & Lighting Design
- Jon Buswell
- Conductor
- Hamish McKeich
- String Ensemble
- Musicians of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
- A Co-Production With
- West Australian Ballet
The story
Plot synopsis
Act I
Macbeth is a rising star in the cut and thrust world of politics, destined for high office. His ambitions are supercharged by a demonic trio of Influencers, who convince him he’ll one day achieve absolute power, while his close ally Banquo’s descendants will rule after him.
Basking in the glory of winning party leadership, Macbeth is shocked when Duncan, the president, chooses his own son Malcolm to succeed him. But Lady Macbeth, steely in her hunger for power, convinces her husband that by killing Duncan and blaming Malcolm for the murder, he can snatch the ultimate prize.
The couple host Duncan and his children at a dinner celebration, and together they administer poison to the president. Duncan’s violent death and Lady Macbeth’s false accusation prompt Malcolm and his sibling Donalbain to flee for their lives, while Duncan’s close ally Macduff, suspecting the couple of foul play, escapes to seek support elsewhere.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth try to wash away the bloody signs of their crime, before Macbeth assumes total power over the nation.
Act II
Macbeth is installed as president, but his fear that Banquo’s descendants will oust him spurs the decision to have Banquo murdered, along with Banquo’s son, Fleance. Macbeth hires assassins, who kill Banquo in a pool-room brawl, but Fleance escapes.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth host an extravagant banquet in their own honour, but the bloodied ghost of Banquo suddenly appears and confronts a horrified Macbeth. Lady Macbeth struggles to restore him to sanity, but finally in despair drives the bewildered guests away. Alone together, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth confront the wreckage of their dreams.
Appalled by the lawlessness and violence of Macbeth’s regime, his former allies turn on him. Determined to know more about his destiny, Macbeth returns to the Influencers, who reassure him he cannot be defeated by any but Macduff. Reckless and paranoid, Macbeth orders the death of Macduff’s family as a warning to the rebel, and in so doing creates his nemesis in the grieving Macduff.
Tormented by guilt, Lady Macbeth takes her own life. Malcolm’s supporters gather as Macbeth prepares to confront his enemies. Believing himself indestructible, he is stunned to meet Macduff who will, he knows, fulfil the final prophecy. Macbeth rises to face his foe and bring to an end his own suffering, along with his brutal regime, leaving the innocent child, Fleance, with the final word.