Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro is a longstanding favourite among opera aficionados and offers a fun ‘first taste’ for those new to the Opera scene. Sung in Italian with English subtitles, The Marriage of Figaro is a whirlwind exploration in love, desire and witty scheming. Originally set in 18th-century Spain, audience members are whisked along for the amusing story of a Count, his young wife, and how they’re outwitted by their charming valet Figaro and Figaro’s betrothed, Susanna.
“The Marriage of Figaro is a light hearted opera that brings to life the vivid, complex, and more than anything, comedic, natures of the characters and their emotional turmoil,” says CEO Ian Rye. “The timeless themes of love, power, and social class, captivate audiences through passionate encounters and hilarious misunderstandings.”
Witty protagonist, Figaro, is set to marry his beloved Susanna but soon they find their plans thwarted by Count Almaviva who desires Susanna for himself. Working together Figaro, Susanna and the Count’s wife manage to expose the Count’s sinister plotting and infidelity over the course of one complicated but undeniably humorous day.
These themes of lowly servants outsmarting the powerful upper class created quite a bit of controversy during the opera’s early years. But regardless of the initial outcry, The Marriage of Figaro went on to be considered one of the greatest and most influential operas ever written.
“We loved preparing a splendid Don Giovanni, and just finished a dashing production of Così fan tutte; the appearance of Le nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] at the conclusion of this season feels almost inevitable, for this is Mozart’s third collaboration with the redoubtable Lorenzo Da Ponte (whose long life story makes such a delightful read),” says Founding Artistic Director, Timothy Vernon. “We’ve met the Count and Countess before, though in an opera written a bit later by Rossini; here, in Figaro, in their now settled noble household, whose peace is threatened by a philandering husband, Mozart gives us as charming a version of Upstairs/Downstairs as anyone could wish—a ‘perfect’ comedy, glittering with musical invention, as well as a micro-cosmic picture of social unrest that would lead to revolution.”
Don’t miss the grand finale of Pacific Opera Victoria’s 2023/24 season as they showcase Mozart’s captivating tale of forbidden romance and social equality. The Marriage of Figaro takes the stage at the Royal Theatre on April 3, 5 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and April 7 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online here, performance run time is two hours and 55 minutes with a 20 minute intermission.
Buy your tickets today and don’t miss your opportunity to catch Pacific Opera Victoria’s final performance of the season! Visit pacificopera.ca to learn more and follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and the occasional glimpse behind the curtain.
