The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro is one of the repertoire’s most iconic works. Brahms spoke of it as a “miracle” and the Countess’s lament remains one of the most heart-rending musical pages of all time.
By taking up Beaumarchais’ comedy, which had caused a scandal to shake Parisian society, Mozart and Da Ponte’s success was secured. The play had even been banned by Joseph II in 1785 at Theatre of Vienna. Did it shine too much light on the contradictions of an already faltering regime, ready to collapse with the French Revolution? Netia Jones’ new production retains the very essence of Beaumarchais’ play as she humorously yet mischievously explores human relationships in a universe that confuses reality and fiction to the point of asking, like the Count: “Are we playing in a comedy?”
Artistic team
Opera buffa in four acts (1786)
Music / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto / Lorenzo Da Ponte
After / Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais Le Mariage de Figaro
Conductor / Gustavo Dudamel
Direction, set, costume designs, video / Netia Jones
Lighting design / Lucy Carter
Choreography / Sophie Laplane
Dramaturgy / Solène Souriau
Chorus master / Alessandro Di Stefano
Orchestre et Chœurs de l’Opéra national de Paris
Cast
Il Conte di Almaviva / Christopher Maltman
La Contessa di Almaviva / Maria Bengtsson
Susanna / Ying Fang
Figaro / Adam Palka
Cherubino / Lea Desandre
Marcellina / Dorothea Röschmann
Bartolo / James Creswell
Don Basilio / Gregory Bonfatti
Don Curzio / Christophe Mortagne
Barbarina / Kseniia Proshina
Antonio / Mathieu Lécroart
Due Donne / Andrea Cueva Molnar, Ilanah Lobel-Torres
