BY MARION LIGNANA ROSENBERG [Newsday, 26 October 2007]

"Macbeth" occupies a special place in Verdi's career. After its 1847 premiere (Verdi revised it in 1865), the composer dedicated it to his beloved father-in-law, calling it "dearer to me than all my other operas." Verdi reportedly made the first Macbeth and Lady Macbeth rehearse their great duet 150 times - the last time with cloaks over their costumes, in the theater lobby, while the world premiere audience waited impatiently.