MICHAEL LEWIS as MacbethBackground: Studied at the London Opera Centre after winning the Metropolitan Opera Competition (1973) and an Arts Council Scholarship. Made his major debut at the Wexford Festival (1976) which launched his career as one of Australia's leading baritones. Has performed in the UK, Europe, America, Mexico, Asia, Australia and New Zealand in diverse repertoire ranging from Mozart to Wagner to contemporary compositions. In 2008, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
For Opera Queensland: Title roles in
Nabucco and
Rigoletto, Enrico in
Lucia di Lammermoor, Ford in
Falstaff, Zurga in
The Pearl Fishers, Giorgio Germont in
La traviata, Count di Luna in
Il trovatore, Count Almaviva in
The Marriage of Figaro.
Other engagements: Has garnered much recognition for his interpretations of the works of Verdi, having performed 12 of the composer's great baritone roles, and finding particular success singing the title role in
Rigoletto. Has appeared in 11 different interpretations of
Rigoletto including productions by Jonathan Miller (in London), Elijah Moshinsky (Opera Australia) and John Copley (Opera Australia, for which he won a Green Room Award), as well as a concert production at
Opera in the Domain which featured Dame Joan Sutherland in her last performance as Gilda. Other performance highlights include the world premières of Richard Mills'
Batavia (as Jeronimus Cornelisz) and John Haddock's
Madeline Lee (as The Major), and making his debut as Sixtus Beckmesser in
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (all for Opera Australia).
Concert engagements: Has appeared with leading orchestras around the world and all of Australia's principal orchestras. Repertoire encompasses all the major baritone works including Orff's
Carmina Burana, Handel's
Messiah, Britten's
A War Requiem, Walton's
Belshazzar's Feast, Brahms'
Ein Deutsches Requiem, Mendelssohn's
Elijah, Elgar's
The Dream of Gerontius, Adams'
The Wound Dresser, Mahler's Eighth Symphony,
Kindertotenlieder and
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Fauré's
Requiem, Rachmaninov's
The Bells, Mussorgsky's
Songs and Dances of Death.
Upcoming engagements: Count Almaviva in
The Marriage of Figaro, Sharpless in
Madama Butterfly (Opera Australia).
ELIZABETH WHITEHOUSE as Lady MacbethBackground: Born in Hobart. Currently based in Germany. Recipient of a MO Award for Senta in
Der fliegende Holländer, Helpmann and MO Awards for title role in
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Green Room Awards for Leonora in
Fidelio, title role in
Manon Lescaut and Feldmarschallin in
Der Rosenkavalier.
Engagements/Australia: Senta in
Der fliegende Holländer, Fata Morgana in
The Love for Three Oranges, Kostelnicka in
Jenůfa, Foreign Princess in
Rusalka, Leonore in
Fidelio, Marie in
Wozzeck, Maddalena in
Andrea Chénier, Feldmarschallin in
Der Rosenkavalier, title roles in
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,
Manon Lescaut,
Tosca (for Opera Australia).
International: Title role in
Turandot, Kundry in
Parsifal (in Germany), Marie in
Wozzeck (Teatro Comunale in Bologna), Agathe in
Der Freischütz (Israeli Opera), Ellen Orford in
Peter Grimes (in Genoa), Gutrune in
Götterdämmerung, Feldmarschallin in
Der Rosenkavalier (La Scala), Leonore in
Fidelio (La Scala and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino), title role in
Tosca (in San Francisco, Colorado, Frankfurt and Tokyo), Amelia in
Un ballo in maschera, Senta in
Der fliegende Holländer (Deutsche Oper), Elsa in
Lohengrin, Countess in
Capriccio (Teatro Reggio di Torino), title role in
Ariadne auf Naxos (Teatro La Fenice), Gutrune and Third Norn in
Götterdämmerung (Teatro Real in Madrid). Has also performed at the Edinburgh, Salzburg, Bregenz, Zürich and Berlin Festivals.
Concert repertoire: Mahler's Symphony Nos 2 and 8, Verdi's
Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Wagner's
Wesendonck Lieder, Schoenberg's
Gurrelieder, Zemlinsky's
Lyrische Symphonie. Has appeared with the Orchestre National de France, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, and the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. A highlight of her concert engagements was her participation as Tove in
Gurrelieder with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Sir Simon Rattle at his inauguration concert as the new Chief Conductor.
Recordings: Believe in Love (with Richard Bonynge/Melba Recordings).
ANDREW COLLIS as BanquoBackground: Has performed extensively throughout Australia and overseas. Was a member of Germany's Cologne Opera from 1993 to 2003.
For Opera Queensland: Cesare Angelotti in
Tosca, Ashby in
The Girl of the Golden West, Kromow in
The Merry Widow, Doctor Dulcamara in
The Elixir of Love, Count Monterone in
Rigoletto, Doctor Grenvil in
La traviata, Speaker in
The Magic Flute, Don Basilio in
The Barber of Seville, Zaccaria in
Nabucco, Colonel Frank in
Die Fledermaus, Friar Lawrence in
Romeo and Juliet, Zuniga in
Carmen, title roles in
Don Pasquale and
The Marriage of Figaro.
Other engagements/Australia: Mr Flint in
Billy Budd, Doctor Kolenatý in
The Makropulos Secret, Friar Lawrence in
Roméo et Juliette (Opera Australia), Swallow in
Peter Grimes, Speaker and Second Priest in
The Magic Flute (West Australian Opera), Fasolt in
Das Rheingold, Spalanzani, Luther and Crespel in
The Tales of Hoffmann (State Opera of South Australia), Luka in
The Bear, Leporello in
Don Giovanni, Duke Bluebeard in
Bluebeard's Castle (Victorian Opera), Count Rodolfo in
La sonnambula (West Australian Opera).
International: Title role in
Le nozze di Figaro, Schaunard and Colline in
La bohème, Hobson in
Peter Grimes, Mr Flint in
Billy Budd, Doctor Kolenatý in
The Makropulos Affair, Monterone in
Rigoletto, Tchelio in
The Love for Three Oranges, Leporello in
Don Giovanni, Don Magnifico in
La Cenerentola, Doctor Falke in
Die Fledermaus (Cologne Opera), Sarastro in
The Magic Flute (Lyric Opera of Singapore), Colline in
La bohème, Hobson in
Peter Grimes (San Diego Opera), Captain Cook in
The Trial of the Cannibal Dog (New Zealand International Arts Festival). Also appeared in productions of
Tosca and
Un ballo in maschera (Hong Kong Arts Festival) and
Intolleranza (Vienna Festival).
Concert repertoire: Bach's
Magnificat,
Coffee Cantata and
Mass in B minor, Handel's
Messiah, Samson and
Semele, Haydn's
Stabat Mater and
The Creation, Beethoven's
Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony, Mozart's
Requiem, Mendelssohn's
Die erste Walpurgisnacht. Recent engagements include performing Doctor Grenvil in a concert production of
La traviata (Brisbane Festival).
Upcoming engagements: Zuniga in
Carmen (Opera Queensland), Nick Shadow in
The Rake's Progress, title role in
The Marriage of Figaro (Victorian Opera)
KALUDI KALUDOW as MacduffBackground: Born in Varna (Bulgaria). Studied at the State Academy of Music in Sofia. Made his stage debut as Alfredo Germont in
La traviata for Sofia National Opera. Launched his international career in 1984 which has seen him perform with some of the greatest singers of our time including Mirella Freni, Ghena Dimitrova, Placido Domingo, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Renato Bruson, Sherrill Milnes, Piero Cappuccilli, Samuel Ramey and Giorgio Zancanaro. Currently resides in Bulgaria where he is a soloist with Sofia National Opera and Rousse State Opera. Also teaches singing at Sofia University.
Engagements/Australia: Gustavus III in
A Masked Ball (Opera Queensland and State Opera of South Australia).
International: Foresto in
Attila (La Scala, Teatro La Fenice and in Japan and Bulgaria), Dimitri in
Boris Godunov (in Chicago and Houston), Radamès in
Aida (Berlin State Opera, in Philadelphia, Korea and Poland, and with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra), Pinkerton in
Madama Butterfly (in Rome and Buenos Aires), Cavaradossi in
Tosca (German State Opera and in Dresden, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Estonia and Poland), Manrico in
Il trovatore (Hamburg State Opera), Macduff in
Macbeth (Vienna State Opera and in Florence), Rodolfo in
La bohème (in Barcelona and Tokyo), title role in
Andrea Chénier (Theatro Municipal São Paulo and in Amsterdam), Des Grieux in
Manon Lescaut (La Scala, Teatro Massimo di Palermo and in Trieste and Nant), Lefebvre in
Madame Sans-Gêne (in Zurich), Gustavus III in
Un ballo in maschera (Sofia National Opera and in Copenhagen and Dresden), Erik in
The Flying Dutchman (in Spain), Alvaro in
La forza del destino, Canio in
Pagliacci (Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland), Turiddu in
Cavalleria rusticana (Dalhalla Opera Festival in Sweden), Paolo in
Francesca da Rimini (in Amsterdam), Arrigo in
I vespri siciliani (in Palermo), Enzo in
Gioconda (Theatro Municipal São Paulo), Duke of Mantua in
Rigoletto (Sofia National Opera and in Japan), Calaf in
Turandot (in Finland and Bulgaria), title role in
Don Carlos (in Finland and Bulgaria), Don Alvaro in
La forza del destino (in Poland), Pollione in
Norma (in Estonia).
Concert engagements: Verdi's
Requiem (in Finland). Also performed in concerts in Vienna, Poland, Hamburg and Bulgaria.
Recordings: Mussorgsky's
Khovanshchina and Borodin's
Prince Igor (Sony Classic Label), Puccini's
Manon Lescaut (Naxos), Janáček's
Glagolitic Mass and Rachmaninoff's
The Bells (Decca). Video recording of La Scala's 1991 production of
Attila under the direction of Riccardo Muti (Videora Label).
VIRGILIO MARINO as Malcolm
Background: Studied piano at the Australian Institute of Music and voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Attended Mannes College of Music in New York (2000). Recipient of the Dame Joan Sutherland Award and the Tenor Award in the Sydney Performing Arts Challenge.
For Opera Queensland: Spoletta in
Tosca, Ferrando in
Così fan tutte, Harry in
The Girl of the Golden West, Nemorino in
The Elixir of Love, Jaquino in
Fidelio, Gastone in
La traviata, Pong in
Turandot, Monostatos in
The Magic Flute, Benvolio in
Romeo and Juliet, Borsa in
Rigoletto (understudied the role of Duke of Mantua in the same production which he performed on Opening Night). Understudied Count Almaviva in
The Barber of Seville, Tamino in
The Magic Flute. Performed in the concert production
The Food of Love. Member of the Young Artist Program (2006).
Other engagements/Australia: Harry in
La fanciulla del West and understudied Greenhorn in
Moby Dick (State Opera of South Australia), Howard Boucher in
Dead Man Walking (State Theatre in Sydney), Alfredo Germont in
La traviata (Majestic Theatre in Pomona), Pinkerton in
Madama Butterfly (Simply Opera).
International: Rinuccio in
Gianni Schicchi (Southern Opera in New Zealand), Fenton in
Falstaff, Prunier in
La rondine and understudied Alfredo Germont in
La traviata (Mannes College of Music in New York), Duke of Mantua in
Rigoletto, title role in
Oberon and understudied the role of Oronte in
Alcina (Theater Regensburg in Germany). Appeared in
Petite Messe Solennelle with students from Teatro alla Scala's Academy of Performing Arts.
Concert repertoire: Verdi's
Requiem, Enescu's
Vox Maris, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Puccini's
Messa di Gloria, Schütz's
Christmas Oratorio, Mozart's
Mass in C minor. Engagements include performing at Victorian Opera's Gala Concert, the Victor Chang Charity Concert, the Italian Republic Day Concert, the Miss Italy Quest, Opera in the Vineyard, Opera at Brookfield and singing the national anthem at the Queensland Cricket Ground. Recent engagements include performing Gastone in a concert production of
La traviata (Brisbane Festival).
Upcoming engagements: Performing in the New Year's Eve Queensland Pops Orchestra concert.
EMILY BURKE as Lady in Waiting
Background: Studied at the Victorian College of the Arts graduating with a Bachelor of Music. Studied Language and Voice at the Milan Conservatory. Recipient of the Puccini Foundation Award (2010). Finalist in San Francisco Merola Program (2010 and 2011). Competitor in the Stanislaw Moniuszko Vocal Competition in Warsaw, Poland (2007). Named an Australia Day Ambassador (2008). Selected to take part in a masterclass in Italy with internationally-renowned soprano Mirella Freni. Runner-up in the ABC TV series
Operatunity Oz, which led to her singing the role of Gilda in a special performance of
Rigoletto (for Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House).
For Opera Queensland: Despina in
Così fan tutte, Giannetta (and understudied Adina) in
The Elixir of Love, Dame Nellie Melba in
Waltzing Our Matilda. Understudied Gilda in
Rigoletto, First Lady and First Wise Woman in
The Magic Flute, Marzelline in
Fidelio. Performed at Sunset Opera. Performed in the Chorus of
The Magic Flute, La traviata, Fidelio. Member of the Young Artist Program (2008 and 2009).
Other engagements/Australia: Understudied Miss Jessel in
The Turn of the Screw (Victorian Opera).
International: Anna in
Nabucco (in Tokyo).
Concert engagements:
Opera Gala (Queensland Symphony Orchestra), Summer Concert Series (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Myer Music Bowl), Opera Australia's 50th Birthday Celebrations, National Gallery of Australia's 25th Anniversary Celebrations. Recordings:
Operatunity Oz (ABC Classics).
Upcoming engagements: Pitti-Sing in a new production of
The Mikado, Frasquita in
Carmen (Opera Queensland).
GUY BOOTH as DoctorBackground: Studied at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University graduating with a Bachelor of Music (2006). Also studied in New York (with Neil Semer) and in Germany. Winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Award (2002), South East Queensland Aria and Concerto Competition (2007), National Lieder Competition (2007). Finalist in San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera Program (2007). Recipient of the Donald Penman Prize (2003), Jeffrey Black Scholarship (2004).
For Opera Queensland: Gaoler (and understudied Sacristan) in
Tosca, Happy in
The Girl of the Golden West, Second Armed Man in
The Magic Flute, Peter Dawson in
Waltzing Our Matilda. Understudied Fiorello in
The Barber of Seville, Marullo in
Rigoletto, Vicomte Cascada in
The Merry Widow. Member of the Chorus since 2003, performing in
Tosca, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, Lucia di Lammermoor, Nabucco, Turandot, Rigoletto, The Elixir of Love, The Merry Widow, Aida. Member of the Young Artist Program (2008 to 2010).
Other engagements: Papageno in
The Magic Flute (Co-Opera with performances in Australia, Germany and Switzerland).
Concert repertoire: Verdi's
Requiem, Bach's
St Matthew Passion. Engagements include
Sunset Opera, Music Beneath the Stars, Opera in the Park, A Night at the Opera and appearing with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra. Also performed in concerts in Germany (for Ars Musica Australis). Upcoming engagements: Moralès in
Carmen and understudying Pish-Tush in
The Mikado (Opera Queensland).
NICHOLAS BRAITHWAITE - Conductor
Background: Born in London. Completed his formal musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music, at the Festival masterclasses in Bayreuth and with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. Has held positions as Music Director and Chief Conductor of Stora Teatern (in Göteborg, Sweden), Music Director of Glyndebourne Touring Opera (UK), Associate Principal Conductor of English National Opera, Principal Conductor of the Manchester Camerata and the Adelaide and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Permanent Guest Conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Associate Conductor to Constantin Silvestri of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
For Opera Queensland:
Tosca.
Engagements: Has appeared with the Orchestre National de Belgique, Orchestre National de France, Oslo Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony, Aarhus Symphony, Aalborg Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, Danish National Radio Symphony, Collegium Musicum Copenhagen and the Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. Has conducted more than 70 different operas with many of the premier opera companies around the world including the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Welsh National Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Norwegian Opera and NBR New Zealand Opera. Toured Japan and Korea with the London Philharmonic Orchestra as Associate Conductor to Sir Georg Solti. Was also a frequent guest conductor for all the major orchestras in the UK (both in concert and on recordings).
Recordings: Shostakovich's Symphony No 8 (with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra - ABC Classics), Wordsworth's Symphonies Nos 2 and 3 (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which won the 1991 Record of the Year Award from Gramophone Magazine), Henry Wood's orchestration of
Pictures at an Exhibition (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra) and Coleridge Taylor's Violin Concerto (with Lorraine MacAslan and the London Philharmonic). Has conducted many recordings with leading international orchestras including London Philharmonic, London Symphony and Philharmonia Orchestras, with soloists such as Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Simon Preston. His recording of Flute Concertos with Alexa Still and the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra was nominated for a 1992 Grammy Award. In 2000, recorded a CD of orchestral music by Swedish composer Franz Berwald. Also recorded Shostakovich's Symphonies Nos 6, 7 and 9 (with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra which is due to be released).