Macbeth
SOLD OUT
Step into the witches’ coven this Halloween for an intimate, immersive reimagining of Verdi’s Macbeth at the breathtaking Casa Romantica.
As you arrive, choose your poison. Sip enchanted cocktails as whispers of prophecy swirl around you and the line between guest and witness begins to disappear. Then, as the doors to the candlelit oceanfront chamber open, you’ll find yourself surrounded by an international cast of extraordinary opera artists in a thrilling performance. Every glance, every secret, and every betrayal unfolds in an intimate setting, close enough to touch.
You’ll be seduced by beauty. Haunted by ambition. Consumed by fate.
This is not simply an opera. It is an unforgettable evening where Shakespeare’s darkest tale comes alive around you in one of Southern California’s most spectacular settings.
Guests are invited to dress in black or dark colors as you will become part of the ambiance. Masks will be provided at the door.
Creative team
The Cast
Hailed as “a luminous soprano” by the New York Times, Rena Harms is know for her “dramatic vividness and vocal flourish” (San Francisco Chronicle.) She has performed leading roles with English National Opera, Opéra National de Bordeaux, LA Opera, Seattle Symphony, Theater Basel, Arizona Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Baden-Baden Festspielhaus, Staatstheater Braunschweig, Opera San José, and Seattle Opera.
Dr. José Luis Maldonado, known as “Baritone Joe,” is an internationally recognized baritone from Los Angeles, praised by Opera News as a “seemingly unlimited baritone.” He has established a distinguished career with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and with leading companies including Opera Birmingham, Long Beach Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Lyric Opera of Orange County, Indianapolis Opera, and Opera Grand Rapids. A recipient of the Opera Buffs Inc. Career Grant and the Richard F. Gold Career Grant, Maldonado is admired for his vocal depth, dramatic intelligence, and stylistic versatility in repertory ranging from Mozart to Verdi, including recently title roles in Falstaff , Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Tonio from Pagliacci.
Carly Cummings is a San Diego based soprano who is thrilled to return to Lyric Opera of Orange County as a witch, after performing with the company as Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica in 2025. Since then Carly has most recently been on stage performing as Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with Genesis Opera. In the spring of 2025 Carly won First Place and the Artistic Excellence Award in the Hawk Vocal Awards along with First Place in the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus Emerging Artist Competition, prior to that she has been awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Western Region, after winning the San Diego District. Carly holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Peabody Conservatory.
Tenor David De Melo makes his debut with Lyric Opera of Orange County in their production of Mcabeth. In 2026, he originated the role of Luke in the world premiere of James Domine’s Luke and Sarah with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra. Mr. De Melo has portrayed leading roles throughout Southern California and Italy, including Radamès (Aida), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Manrico (Il Trovatore), Don José (Carmen), Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana), Jean Valjean (Les Misérables), Rodolfo (La Bohème), Alfred (Die Fledermaus), B. F. Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Des Grieux (Manon Lescaut), and The Lover (Amelia Goes to the Ball). He has performed as a soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Handel’s Messiah.
Justin Ramm-Damron has received reviews where he has been described as a “Poised and characterful bass-baritone” as well as “a lovely, full bass-baritone” (Opera Today). He has performed roles with several reputable opera companies, including: Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Shreveport Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, Bronx Opera, Tundi Productions, and St Petersburg Opera. He earned his Master’s degree from Northwestern University in Voice and Opera Performance studying under W. Stephen Smith. He previously received his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Sacramento State School of Music.
Zachary Mascarinas is a Filipino baritone recognized for his powerful artistry, warm timbre, and vibrant stage presence. Recent highlights include Ping (cover) in Turandot with the Pacific Opera Project, Frank in Die Fledermaus with Opera Italia, Escamillo in Carmen with Valley Opera of Performing Arts, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Opera Seme. Upcoming engagements include Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Italia and Morales (cover) in Carmen with Opera San Jose.
Awards include the 2025 – 2026 Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Voice Concerto Competition, first place in the 2025 Southern California Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, second place in the 2025 Whittier Regional Symphony Young Artist Competition, and third place in the 2026 Opera Buffs Artists of the Future Competition.
Andrea Church Durant is a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and répétiteur with extensive experience in opera, musical theater, sacred music, chamber music, and choral performance. She’s held accompanist positions at California State University, Dominguez Hills, University of Southern California, Utah Valley University, Brigham Young University, and Southern Utah University. At USC, she served as music director and accompanist for the 2024 Thornton Chamber Opera Scenes, and UVU Music Director for the Musical Theatre Department. International highlights include work with the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival as well as tours in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Awards include the Encrantz Professional Fellowship at the Hawaiʻi Performing Arts Festival. Andrea is delighted to join Lyric Opera of Orange County’s Emerging Artist Studio as a Collaborative Piano Fellow.
Soprano Virginia Douglas is passionate about storytelling and forging connections through music. In 2026, she covered the roles of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, and the title role in James Domine’s Luke and Sarah with Guild Opera Company. In 2025, she sang with Long Beach Opera in their production of El Relicario de los Animales. A recent graduate of UCLA, Virginia sang the title role in Dido and Aeneas (2023), premiered the role of Maria Maladetto in Richard Danielpour’s The Grand Hotel Tartarus (2024), and performed Evanco in Rodrigo (2025) with Opera UCLA.
Anna Caplan is a Southern California-based mezzo soprano. Roles have included Hansel (Hansel & Gretel) with Lyric Opera of Orange County, Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) with Opera Italia, Romeo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), Dido (Dido & Aeneas), and Phaedo (Socrate) with East Village Caravanserai. She is a roster member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and performs with Choral Arts Initiative, Tonality, Resonant, Long Beach Camerata, and Laude. She has sung background vocals for Christina Aguilera, Tiësto, The Who, Sarah Brightman, and Josh Groban. Anna holds a BM in Vocal Performance and MM in Vocal Chamber Music, both from the University of Redlands.
Korean-American soprano Jessica Choi has performed internationally across opera, concert, and recital stages. She made her LA Opera debut in On Gold Mountain and has appeared in multiple productions with the company. Her roles include Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly), Mimì (La bohème), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), and the Countess (Le nozze di Figaro). She has also performed as soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Die Schöpfung. An accomplished recitalist, she has appeared at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Britten Theatre, and the South Korean Embassy in London. She holds degrees from the Royal College of Music and California State University, Fullerton.
Getting there
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
415 Avenida GranadaSan Clemente, CA 92672
Every performance is made possible by people like you
Lyric Opera of Orange County is a nonprofit. Ticket sales cover only part of what it takes to bring Macbeth to the stage.
