Palmer native part of opera cast

PALMER — “Pieta, rispetto, amore” — mercy, respect, love — are three things that evade the title character in Guiseppe Verdi’s “Macbeth,” which makes its Alaska premiere with the Anchorage Opera on Saturday on the Discovery Theatre stage at the Alaska Center for Performing Arts.

People who look closely also will see 2006 Palmer High graduate Kate Schwarzer on stage as one of the play’s three infamous witches.

“The opera is so rich with dramatic plot points,” she said. “And the music is fantastic.”

This marriage of Verdi’s powerful score and a classic Shakespeare text has garnered a worldwide reputation for being a remarkable and unusual combination of great drama and great music. The opera tells of the dark relationship between Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, as they follow a prophecy of by coven of witches that Macbeth will one day be king. Unhappy with leaving this to fate, Lady Macbeth encourages the unspeakable to force fulfillment of the prophecy. What ensues is a downward spiral into a world of double-cross, intrigue and murder.

Directed by New York City Opera’s Cynthia Edwards and conducted by the critically lauded Kelly Kuo, the Anchorage Opera production boasts impressive staging and a cast of more than 30 vocalists, including Alaska talent alongside performers of international renown.

The two leads are no strangers to the roles or each other. Soprano Brenda Harris and baritone Todd Thomas have performed the roles of Lady Macbeth and her doomed husband elsewhere.

Among the supporting cast in Anchorage are Derrick Parker as Banquo and Benjamin Bongers as Macduff. Fans of the Anchorage Opera should be happy to see the return of veterans from the 2011 production of “South Pacific:” Lisa Willis as Lady in Waiting and Benjamin Robinson as Malcom.

Schwarzer, who also serves as patron services manager, marketing and education coordinator for the Anchorage Opera, also joins a chorus of 10 witches from whom Macbeth seeks counsel.

Macbeth is sung in Italian with English super-titles. In addition to Saturday’s opening night performance, Macbeth will return to the stage Feb. 22, 24 and 26. A 30-minute educational before-the-opera chat with insights about the production is planned an hour before each performance.

For more information, visit the Anchorage Opera online at anchorageopera.org. Tickets are on sale at centertix.net or by calling (907) 357-ARTS.