Opera Company of Middlebury to Open Giuseppe Verdi's MACBETH in June

The Opera Company of Middlebury will open its 13th season with Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth, June 3 at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury.

"With two of the most challenging roles in opera, you can't even consider Macbeth unless you have two absolutely riveting singer-actors," said Douglas Anderson, artistic director of OCM. "We have them in Rochelle Bard, who sang a searing Violetta in our production of La Traviata two years ago, and Joshua Jeremiah, who starred as Athanael in our production of Thais."

Macbeth premiered in Florence in 1847 and arrived in New York eleven years later. Though one of Verdi's earliest works, it has a passionate, melodic score and an unrelieved intensity, and has lately been rediscovered as one of his masterworks.

OCM's professional singers are cast from a lengthy audition process in New York and Vermont. Rounding out the cast of Macbeth are Rubin Casas, who will sing the bass role of Banquo, and tenor Alok Kumar, last season's triumphant Calàf, who will sing Macduff. Tenor Yi Li will perform Malcolm.

Maestro Emmanuel Plasson will lead the OCM orchestra.

Now in its 13th Season, the company is beginning to get national attention, and was featured in recent articles in Opera News and The Huffington Post. A radio commentator recently called it "the most exciting opera company in New England."

A free reception will follow the opening night performance on June 3. Complimentary champagne will be served and the audience will have an opportunity to meet the cast. Macbeth will continue in performance Sunday, June 5, with a 2 p.m. matinee, and June 9 and 11 at 8 p.m. in the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Tickets are $55-$75.

A special June 10 performance will feature the talented young singers covering the major roles. Tickets for this piano-only performance will be $30.

An informative talk on the opera will be presented an hour before each performance at Memorial Baptist Church, across from Town Hall Theater on South Pleasant Street.

Tickets may be purchased at www.townhalltheater.org, over the phone at 802-382-9222 or in person at the Town Hall Theater Box Office (daily except Sunday, noon - 5 pm). OCM performances routinely sell out, so advance tickets are recommended.

For more information about the 2016 season, visit www.ocmvermont.org.

Photo Credit: Opera Company of Middlebury

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