Canadian stage director Brenna Corner takes us to Washington, DC, where she is directing a brand-new production of Verdi‘s Macbeth at the Washington National Opera (info and tickets here).
Brenna was the founding artistic director of Manitoba Underground Opera and is currently the artistic director of Pacific Opera Victoria. In 2016, she made her main stage debut directing Hansel and Gretel at Vancouver Opera. She has gone on to direct productions all over Canada, the United States and Europe. Highlights include the Glimmerglass Festival, Houston Grand Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Calgary Opera.
While in Washington, Brenna shares the museums and parks she has visited, where to get the best post-rehearsal meal and her favourite neighbourhood to explore. Read on to find out more.
City where you’re working?
Washington, DC.
How long are you working on contract?
Until mid November.
What’s the opera house like?
It’s a great house. Beautiful, stunning place and such an iconic part of American history.
Where is the most peaceful place in the city?
Dumbarton Oaks. The museum, the grounds, everything is really so inspiring.
Best coffee or tea?
Not sure – but I can say tea in general is always better than coffee.
Coolest bar or restaurant you’ve been to?
I love the Tacoma Park Beverage Company. They have such a cool vibe and are super close to the rehearsal space.
An activity you have done that is unique to the area?
Visiting the Smithsonian institute museums. I mean these museums and the amount of them are just out of this world. Some are better than others, but the whole experience of walking around the mall and exploring the museums is amazing.
How did you find accommodation?
Air BnB!
What’s the most important thing you think of when it comes to finding accommodation as a singer?
You’d have to ask for singer. For me the most important thing is laundry and location, because sometimes the hours are so nutty during rehearsal and I want to make sure the location is somewhere walkable and somewhere that has laundry – or you spend your one day off trekking to a laundromat instead of resting or exploring.
Have you had a chance to explore some galleries or museums?
Yes, at the museum.
Is there anything else you’d recommend?
Georgetown is a super cool area.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Brenna Corner
VISIT HER WEBSITE
©Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Kennedy Centre. Home of the Washington National Opera
©Noclip, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Smithsonian Building in Washington D.C.
MacBeth
Washington National Opera
November 14-23
MACBETH: Étienne Dupuis
LADY MACBETH: Ewa Płonka
MACDUFF: Kang Wang
BANQUO: Soloman Howard
CONDUCTOR: Evan Rogister
DIRECTOR: Brenna Corner
SET DESIGNER: Erhard Rom
LIGHTING DESIGNER: A.J. GUBAN
PROJECTION DESIGNER: S. Katy Tucker
NEW PRODUCTION
Power’s price, paid in blood.
Massive ensembles. White hot arias. The dark recesses of the mind. Verdi’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s smoldering tragedy is a riveting exploration of power, corruption, and freedom. Fresh off the success of Romeo and Juliet in our 2023–2024 season, Washington National Opera brings the Bard’s historical epic back for the first time in 17 years.
Meet opera’s most power-hungry couple: Macbeth and his Lady. When they’re caught in a murderous plot to claim the Scottish throne, their manic greed for control has no end. Verdi wrote this powerhouse during Italy’s independence movement, and it soars with themes of political corruption, tyrannical rule, and liberation of the people.
Macbeth takes audiences through a gripping tale of ambition and scandal, from the first note to the spectacular closing chorus. As the chilling finale approaches, ghosts of the past lurk in the shadows. Power unchecked comes at a cost; what can stop its bloody path of destruction?
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Máiri Demings is Opera Canada’s digital content specialist. She’s also a mezzo-soprano who has sung with Tapestry Opera, performs regularly with VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert and Toronto Operetta Theatre, and is one half of duo mezzopiano with pianist Zain Solinski.
