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Have you seen or are you planning to see The Marriage of Figaro? What do you think about the production?
This blog serves as a place to voice your thoughts, ask your questions, and post your reviews of the show. Posting a review enters you into our Weekly Review Competition, with the most insightful review each week receiving two tickets to an opera of choice.
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About this production of The Marriage of Figaro:
In 2012 we celebrate Mozart’s revolutionary masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro with a new production from one of the most exciting theatrical minds in Australia, Benedict Andrews.
After his award-winning productions of The Wars of the Roses and The Seagull, what will he make of Mozart? Come and see, when the outstanding cast, including Russian soprano Elvira Fatykhova as the Countess, takes to the stage for one of the greatest operas of all time.
It’s a special day. Susanna, the housemaid, and Figaro, the security guard, are getting married! And the boss has provided them with brand new married quarters, ideally positioned right between his and his wife’s bedrooms.
Wait a minute… ideally positioned for whom? Could the boss have his eye on the bride?
Click here and select your city for more information, cast lists, ticket sales, and more
John O'Brien bruceville@optusnet.com.au
ReplyDeleteI went on the opening night. I have seen many productions of the Marriage of Figaro in thirty or more years of opera going. I was a little uncertain how it might be sung in English. It may be good for the audience but I am not sure it is always best for the singers. In so many ways it was, however, the best production of what is, in my opinion, is the greatest opera ever written. The cast were uniformly good. The 'panto' duo Jacqui Dark and Conal Coad, together with ever the high camp Kanen Breen had the audience is stitches. Not mere mugging but seriously good singing from the three gifted vaudevillians! Ms Dark's costumes were gorgeously grotesque - especially her mother of groom-to-be. Ms Fiebig seems to have been born to play Susanna. I look forward to her Countess. That role seems more and more played by the younger trophy wives rather than the faded beauties. Mr Bloom - gorgeous singing, gorgeous man! Michael Lewis as the Count was represented as more pathetic than an ageing sleazebag. Both Mr Lewis and Elvira Fatykhova gave beautifully understated performances. Ms Fatykhova, however, delivered the key arias in the manner we expect. And Domenica Matthews is better and better each time she appears. Cherubino is a hellish role. She was a very convincing as a girl-boy-girl! The production, staging and movement were visually stunning!. The final Act was a triumph. It was more a dramatic climax and than overlong denouement. The subtlety and complexity the opera was realised within the circle of broken chars amidst the falling leaves. A production does not underplay the music in favour of production trickery. The Musical Director and Director have produced a beautifully integrated work. It is not to be missed!
Our party of 4 attended Marriage of Figaro on Friday night 9th March and we were unanimous that it was a brilliant production. I have never laughed so much, it was witty, clever and outrageously camp at times. The scene in the bedroom with the dead deer had all of us rolling in the aisle with laughter. How refreshing to see a hip, contemporary 21st centruy version of Marriage of Figaro. I adored the sideways sliding set changes, so clever and oh yes the singing was superb. Bededict Andrews, cast and crew we salute you!
ReplyDeleteCaroline Surendra. casuren@ozemail.com.au
ReplyDeleteI am a new atendee of Opera and decided that this year I would choose 5 Operas and go alone!!! What better way to get out of the house and enjoy some beautiful music and singing for a while?
It has been such a wonderful experience so far and I so enjoyed The Marriage of Figaro yesterday (Sat 17th March - 1pm performance). I know the music of course but have never seen it performed - it was wonderful.
The singing was wonderful, with the lovely Anna Yun stepping in to take the part of Cherubino. I agree, the bedroom scene was hiarious and superbly staged and I am still amazed at the length the 'confetti' falls from the sky in the last act.
I could go on and on about parts which made me laugh - Bravo to you all, and thank you for providing such a wonderful way for me to pass a Saturday afternoon.
Looking forward to La Traviata now!