The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro)

Synopsis

Count Almaviva lusts after the delicious Susanna, Figaro's bride to be. The neglected Countess pines for her husband's attentions and, as she tries to make him jealous, love and suspicion abound. Figaro must unravel the threads before he and Susanna can tie the knot. Also performed as Figaro's Wedding and Figaro!. First performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna on 1 May 1786

Our Review:

14 April 2010

This English Touring Opera co-production with the RCM has been revived by Bernadette Iglich from James Conway’s original staging.

We may be in the summer residence of Aguas Frescas during the late 18th century but Agnes Treplin’s designs suggest that autumn is fast approaching. The jalousie shutters have seen better days, the grey walls are faded and the costumes are predominantly in russets and browns which suggest fallen leaves and the onset of decay. This is a place which has already outlived its time.

Michael Irwin’s translation is a singable one with some neat couplets in the recitative passages. The large cast provides some good acting as well as a judicious use of vocal decoration and the set-piece arias as well as the ensembles make their proper impact. Eliana Pretorian’s Susanna in particular creates magic for “Deh vieni” and, with Laura Mitchell’s Countess a lyrical soaring for “Che soave zeffiretto”. Mitchell is...

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