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:

Simon Collison - 29 March 2012

Mozart’s most accessible and enjoyable opera, The Marriage of Figaro performed by Welsh National Opera, on tour and currently at the Mayflower Southampton.

Count Almaviva has given up his feudal right entitling him to sleep with the bride of any of his servants on their wedding night. The Count’s favourite servant, Susanna, is about to marry his valet, Figaro so he now regrets giving up this right. Realising that she is in danger, Susanna plots with Figaro, the Countess and page boy Cherubino, to avoid being seduced by the Count and show him up for what he really is. The various plots involve Cherubino dressing up as a girl, and the Countess and Sussanna swapping clothes and arranging an assignation in the garden. Much mistaken identity and misplaced jealousies ensue, finally being sorted out in time for everyone to celebrate Figaro’s wedding.

As the orchestra strikes up the first bars of the overture, under the expert conductorship of Anthony Negus, ...

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