Camden Music Preview | Classical and Jazz | Le Nozze Di Figaro

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The Review - MUSIC - Classical & Jazz with TONY KIELY
Published: 19 June 2008

Camden Music Preview | Classical and Jazz | Le Nozze Di Figaro | Royal Opera House

PREVIEW: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Royal Opera House

ONE of the greatest and most-loved operas of all time, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) returns to the Royal Opera House this month for a second revival of David McVicar’s celebrated production.
McVicar’s 2006 production sees Italian bass-baritone Ildebrando D’Arcangelo take on the role of Figaro for the first time in Covent Garden, while Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak returns to sing Susanna after her role as Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore earlier in the season. Charles Mackerras conducts all performances, except July 8 and 19.
Le Nozze takes place after the events of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), and both opera were based on plays by the French playwright and revolutionary Pierre de Beaumarchais.
Like many operas, Le Nozze is based on a slightly mind-bending number of relationships, betrayals and hanging storylines.
In short, the marriage of Count Almaviva (played here by Swedish baritone Peter Mattei), is on the rocks due to his philandering ways.
The Count now has his eye on Figaro’s fiancée, Suzanne, while an earlier suitor of Suzanne has the knives out for Figaro.
Throw in a scheming maid, an amorous teenager and a drunken gardener, and the scene is set for la folle journée, a crazy day.
But the finer details of plot are really by-the-bye.
Freed of the political content that would have caused offence in Vienna by Mozart’s librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, La Nozze is a humorous, yet profound story of love and betrayal.
And with Mozart’s masterful hand on every perfect note of the score, this work of genius – sometimes derided for being over-performed – has everything to recommend it.

* La Nozze di Figaro is at the Royal Opera House on June 24, 27, 30 and July 2, 8, 10, 16 and 19 at 7pm (July 5 and 12 at 6.30pm). 020 7304 4000

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