Opera Lyra Ottawa Ottawa presents MACBETH

March 27, 29, 31, April 3, 2010

Southam Hall, National Arts Centre

March 8, 2010...Opera Lyra Ottawa (OLO) presents Macbeth, Verdi’Äôs great opera about power, love and treachery.

Artistic Director of Opera Lyra Ottawa and Conductor, Tyrone Paterson, has brought together a stellar cast led by Greer Grimsley "...the glory of his Macbeth is in the rich, robust voice and vital presence." (Vancouver Sun) Brenda Harris, whose voice has been described as ’Äú... drop-dead gorgeous singing, soaring on high, glowing with mezzo-ish warmth in lower registers, nearly every phrase elegantly turned’Äù (Dallas Morning News) takes on the role of Lady Macbeth, and Andrew Funk’Äôs ’Äúwonderful vocal presence’Äù (Santa Barbara Independent) will incarnate Banquo, Macbeth’Äôs friend and tragic victim. Canadian Luc Robert will bring his remarkable tenor voice to the role of MacDuff and Renˆ©e Lapointe, whose ’Äúextremely seductive voice’Äù (Toronto Star) is the Lady-in-Waiting. Renˆ©e was last seen as the Third Lady in OLO’Äôs 2009 season-opening production of The Magic Flute.

International Director Joseph Bascetta and acclaimed lighting designer Henry Frehner will recreate the mystery and drama of Macbeth.

Macbeth will be sung in Italian, with English and French Surtitles. Performances begin at 8:00 pm. Pre-opera chats are presented free of charge to all patrons one-hour prior to each performance in the lobby. These offer an opportunity to learn more about the composer, context and historical significance of the opera.

The Story

Scottish army leaders Macbeth and Banquo meet three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland and tell Banquo that he will be the father of kings. The first part of the witches’Äô prediction comes true almost immediately when Duncan, the King of Scotland names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, thereby sealing his doom. This announcement unleashes Lady Macbeth’Äôs ambition and she convinces Macbeth that Duncan must die by his hand.

Macbeth becomes King but, consumed by the prophecy that Banquo’Äôs children will rule Scotland, he and Lady Macbeth plot to have Banquo and his son, Fleance, assassinated. Banquo is killed and Fleance escapes. Lady Macbeth welcomes the court to the banquet hall when Macbeth hears the news. Macduff vows to leave the country.

Beset by guilt, Macbeth seeks out the witches demanding more prohecies. Apparitions warn him to beware of Macduff and assure him that he will come to no harm by ’Äúman of woman born’Äù and that he will be invincible until Birnam Wood marches on his castle. In another vision, he sees a procession of future kings, followed by Banquo. Horrified, Macbeth collapses. He and Lady Macbeth resolve to kill Macduff and his family as well as Banquo’Äôs son. On the English border, Macduff, his wife and children murdered, has joined the Scottish refugees Malcolm appears with British troops and leads them to invade Scotland.

Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, haunted by the horrors of what she and her husband have done, while Macbeth awaits the arrival of his enemies. Messengers bring news that Lady Macbeth has died, and that Birnam Wood appears to be moving. Macduff confronts Macbeth and tells him that he was not born naturally but had a Caesarean birth. He kills Macbeth and proclaims Malcolm king of Scotland.

Ticket Information:

Single tickets, from $40 to $169, are available from the NAC box office and all Ticketmaster locations (service fees will be applied). Visit Ticketmaster online or call 613-755-1111. DISCOUNTS: For groups of 10 or more please call Opera Lyra Ottawa at 613-233-9200 and ask about our group rates. Students with a valid Live Rush’Ñ¢ membership card may buy up to 2 tickets per performance at a discounted price. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at the NAC Box Office on the day of the performance from 2 to 6 pm. More information is available at www.liverush.ca.

About Opera Lyra Ottawa

Opera Lyra Ottawa is a not-for-profit organization with the mandate to produce and present opera in the National Capital Region of the highest quality and to promote opera as an art form, making it accessible to as large a segment of the population as possible through community outreach and education. Wherever possible, Opera Lyra Ottawa is committed to encourage, nurture and support Canadian artists. For more information please visit www.operalyra.ca.

Opera Lyra Ottawa gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors who make the 2009-2010 season possible. We thank Bell, Season Sponsor, as well as our other Principal Sponsors: Sun Life Financial, and Ottawa Citizen; Major Sponsors: Extended Suites Ottawa, Custom Printers, Kolegram and Handa Travel. Opera Lyra would also like to thank the following agencies for their support: the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa.