Mozart’s beloved four-act comic opera, The Marriage of Figaro, is the kind of mad and frantic bedroom farce from which guilty (and not-so-guilty) pleasures are made. Artistic Director of Virginia Opera (VAO), Adam Turner, states, “This story, these characters- they're all incredibly relevant and resonant. You’ll find a way to see a connection with these characters in some fashion because these are all still themes we still explore today.” In VAO’s recent video “Adam Turner explains the plot of Figaro in just 30 seconds-ish,” Turner attempts to summarize the plot in under a minute, falling short just a few moments into the first act in which he laughs and exclaims, “That’s not even the first scene!” The Marriage of Figaro is clearly full to the brim with characters that can’t be forgotten and moments that will leave you smiling.
Last performed by Virginia Opera in 2013, the new 2022 staging, conducted by Adam Turner with live music by the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, promises a captivating performance that will leave you whistling a tune all the way home. Turner echoes the significance of this performance, mentioning, "It's thrilling to be revisiting Mozart's masterpiece after a nearly decade-long hiatus, and this production of Figaro is going to be nothing short of enchanting." Driven by the music of Mozart at his most spirited, Figaro’s hilariously absurd twists and turns pile the outrageous on top of the scandalous to create a perfect viewing experience. The Virginian-Plot raves, "Bravo, Mozart, for fusing music and words into enlightenment ... And bravo, Virginia Opera. It may be your company’s sixth production of Figaro, but you still took risks to make it new."
Luckily for opera experts and newcomers alike, there are many opportunities to learn about the piece, such as Let’s Talk Opera with Josh Borths, in which Borths, Preview Lecturer & Educator of Des Moines Metro Opera and Founder of OperaClassroom.com, dives into the history behind this beloved Mozart piece, how controversy almost kept this classic work off the stage, and much more. Along with many opera lovers between its original production year of 1786 and today's modern audiences, Borths notes The Marriage of Figaro as “one of [his] favorite operas to talk about” and proves just that by wholeheartedly providing a plethora of information that is both intriguing and fun.
The Marriage of Figaro highlights aspects of the human condition and its ability to provide what we all wish for most: a happy ending. Adam Turner shares his excitement, stating, "It's thrilling to be revisiting Mozart's masterpiece after a nearly decade-long hiatus, and this production of Figaro is going to be nothing short of enchanting ... Figaro promises to deliver a performance to remember, with its resounding message best encapsulated by one of the show's final lines - in the end there is only love." A fantastic opera to end Virginia Opera’s 2021-2022 season, this performance truly can’t be missed.
For more information about Virginia Opera’s upcoming production of The Marriage of Figaro on April 9 and 10, visit the the Center for the Arts website.