COC Opens 2005/06 Season With Infamous Scottish Tale

Verdi’s Macbeth delves deep into the dark workings of the human soul as it follows the murderous rise and fall of the warrior Macbeth in his attempts to claim the Scottish throne. Working with a text and a score rich in social, political and psychological meaning, Muni’s and Lyne’s collaboration blends elements of the traditional with an emotionally realistic vision of this infamous tale. Lighting designer David Finn, a member of the COC Ring Cycle team, lights this compelling drama.

Singing the title role is bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka, who returns for his third consecutive season at the COC. An audience favourite and critically acclaimed for his performances, Hunka previously appeared with the company in the title role in Falstaff, as Hunding in Die Walküre and as Alberich in Siegfried. He also returns to the COC in spring 2006 for the title role in Wozzeck. Hunka sings the first four performances, sharing the role of Macbeth with Italian baritone Vittorio Vitelli who makes his Canadian debut. Joining Hunka and Vitelli is Hungarian soprano Georgina Lukács, making her COC debut as the devious and ambitious Lady Macbeth. Lukács has received international acclaim for her performances, and appeared with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Vienna State Opera, La Scala and Metropolitan Opera, among others.

Ensemble Studio graduate tenor Roger Honeywell, last seen at the COC in the title role in Sartorio’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, sings the role of the honourable Macduff. Honeywell recently completed two years with the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists program followed by appearances with Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, Michigan Opera Theater and Cincinnati Opera. Turkish bass Burak Bilgili, Raimondo in last season’s Lucia di Lammermoor, is the betrayed Banquo who haunts Macbeth. COC Ensemble Studio members, tenor Victor Micallef and soprano Joni Henson, appear as Malcolm, the slain King of Scotland’s son, and the Lady-in-Waiting, respectively. Canadian actor Christian Laurin is the murdered Duncan, King of Scotland, and bass Cornelis Opthof, in his 46th season with the COC, is the Servant and Doctor.

Macbeth was the first of Verdi’s three operas based on Shakespeare’s plays, the others being Otello and Falstaff. At the time of its premiere in 1847, Macbeth was considered the boldest and most consistently inventive opera Verdi had written to date. The piece was revolutionary for its time with extraordinary attention placed on the interpretation of the words through the melody and the orchestration. The result is a true music drama that has listeners consumed by what unfolds before them. The COC last performed Macbeth in 1986.

Single tickets for Macbeth go on sale August 15, 2005 and may be purchased by calling 416-872-2262, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or in person at the Hummingbird Centre Box Office (1 Front Street East, Toronto) or Ticketmaster Outlets. Ticket prices for all performances range from $40 to $175. Special young people’s tickets for all performances throughout the season are priced from $18 to $88. These ticket prices apply to those who are 17 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult. Starting September 17, 2005 at 10 a.m., $18 and $29 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 18 and 29 through the 18to29: Opera for a New Age program presented by TD Bank Financial Group.

Subscriptions for the COC’s 2005/06 season may be purchased by calling 416-363-8231, toll-free at

1-800-250-4653, or in person at the COC Box Office (227 Front St. East, Toronto) or at the Hummingbird Centre Box Office. Patrons can also purchase subscriptions securely online at www.coc.ca.

Macbeth Production Sponsor: Aber Diamond Corporation and Harry Winston

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLES™: Sun Life Financial

The COC Ensemble Studio is Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and career development opportunities. The Ensemble Studio is generously supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, The John A. Cook Young Artist Development Fund, Harris Steel Group, The Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation, The Hal Jackman Foundation, The John McKellar Charitable Foundation, Ruby Mercer Fund, George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, Roger D. Moore Ensemble Studio Endowment Fund, RBC Financial Group, and an anonymous donor.

The COC offers free 20-minute introductions to the opera and its theme at the Hummingbird Centre,

45 minutes prior to each performance.

The Canadian Opera Company Web site, at www.coc.ca, contains information and historical background on all productions including synopses, historical backgrounds and production photographs.