Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro

Note: early start time

Arrive: 1:00 - 1:15
Opera: 1:15 - 1:20

Kiri Te Kanawa

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By far the most popular of Mozart's operas, Le Nozze di Figaro reveals very human feelings at every level as situations develop that are comical for the audience, but not so for the characters. This 1973 production from Glyndbourne Festival Opera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyndebourne_Festival_Opera), England provides luxury casting with major performers in their prime: Kiri Te Kanawa, Ilena Cortrubus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaVIwwNhocg), Benjamin Luxon, Knut Skram in the title role, and Frederica von Stade in her signature role as Cherubino.

Mozart, like Shakespeare, individuates his characters, giving each a distinct musical style. Susannah never sounds like the countess, Figaro never sounds like the count. Cherubino, the randy adolescent, is one of the more memorable of operatic personae.http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/e/c/2/event_82720642.jpeg

The opera is based on the play of the same name (1778) by Pierre Beaumarchais, which was considered subversive and banned in Vienna. European monarchies feared revolution, but Mozart prevailed with the censors: his opera premiered in Vienna in 1786; the French revolution began in 1789.

Figaro offers some of the most glorious music ever written, none more moving than "Contessa, perdono (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFLlhH4gtPU)," the count's request for forgiveness and the countess' reply. Synopsis (http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/synopsis.aspx?id=13)

In four acts. Run time: about 3 hours.

Note: this is a repeat showing.

Frederica von Stade, Cherubino's aria "Voi che sapete"