The Atlanta Opera (TAO) announces its upcoming production of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Macbeth, a gripping adaptation of Shakespeare’s legendary play. This dark masterpiece will take the stage at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre from March 1 to March 9, 2025, promising an unforgettable experience for opera and theater enthusiasts alike.

Directed by Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera in collaboration with stage director Gregory Luis Boyle and conducted by Iván López-Reynoso, this production of Macbeth brings together a world-class cast and creative team to deliver Verdi’s brooding score and Shakespeare’s timeless tale of ambition, superstition, and downfall. The opera features Michael Mayes as the tormented Macbeth, Sara Gartland as the ruthless Lady Macbeth and the GRAMMY Award-winning bass Morris Robinson as Banquo. Returning to Atlanta after performing in last season’s Rigoletto, tenor Won Whi Choi appears as Macduff.  Mayes, a favorite of Atlanta audiences, has been lauded by ArtsATL.org for his “commanding voice and stage presence.” Gartland makes her TAO debut after acclaimed recent performances in Europe and the U.S. including the Oldenburg Staatstheater, Minnesota Opera, and the Dallas Opera. Robinson, lauded by the SFgate.com for his “extraordinary blend of power and fluidity” is currently featured at The Met Opera in their production of Aida. Of Choi’s performance in TAO’s Rigoletto, ArtsATL proclaimed, “Choi hangs on to the high notes, thrillingly so.”

Returning to TAO stage is Georgia native, the rising star tenor Demetrious Sampson, Jr. A singular talent, Sampson was last seen on the Atlanta Opera stage in Porgy & Bess, the opera canceled in mid-production with the coronavirus shutdown in March 2020, while he was still an undergraduate at Georgia State University. Sampson is currently in his second year with the prestigious Butler Studio Artist program at the Houston Grand Opera after spending a summer in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program.

A leading conductor in Mexico, Iván López-Reynoso made his opera conducting debut at age 20 and was subsequently selected as the conductor for the 2014 Rossini Opera Festival Accademia. Since then, this gifted conductor, pianist and countertenor has led opera and orchestral performances in the U.S., South America, and Europe.

“Macbeth has not been seen in Atlanta for over 25 years and it is high time we brought it back. Verdi’s opera is a real theatrical event that requires a powerhouse group of singer-actors who will bring the intense drama, not only the music, to life. This is an exceptional cast, and I cannot wait to start rehearsals with them,” says Tomer Zvulun, the production director. “Macbeth is truly grand opera, which offers a musical challenge to any company. The Atlanta Opera’s excellent orchestra and chorus are both ready for the challenge, and I look forward to Ivan Lopez-Reynoso’s debut on the TAO podium.”

 About the Production Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and supernatural forces, Macbeth tells of a Scottish general whose thirst for power, spurred by an ominous prophecy and his wife’s unrelenting ambition, leads to his tragic downfall. Verdi’s music masterfully captures the psychological turmoil of the characters, from Lady Macbeth’s tormented “Una macchia e qui tuttora” (“A stain is still here”) from the notorious sleepwalking scene to Macbeth’s tortured “Pietà, rispetto, amore” (“Mercy, respect, love”).

This production will feature an adaptation by Steven Kemp of a set fashioned after Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Costumes were designed by the award-winning Robert Israel for a production of the Seattle Opera, and new lighting and projection design by Driscoll Otto will create an immersive atmosphere that amplifies the opera’s tension and drama.

LINK TO PROMOTIONAL IMAGES

Performance Dates and Ticket Information

• Saturday, March 1 at 8:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.

• Friday, March 7 at 8:00 p.m.

• Sunday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m.

Performances will be held at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. Tickets start at $35 and are available now at Atlantaopera.org or by calling 404-881-8885. Discounts are available for students, young professionals, veterans, and groups.

Special Events The Atlanta Opera will host a series of special events in conjunction with Macbeth, including:

• Pre-Opera Talks: Join us one hour before each performance for an insightful discussion about the opera’s themes and history by the esteemed music specialist, Dr. Uzee Brown.

• Livestream: Free to view online on Friday, March 7 at stream.atlantaopera.org. Free with registration.

• Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Explore the making of Macbeth with exclusive backstage tours for donors to the Gold Patrons Circle.