THEATRE + COMEDY

Houston Grand Opera presents Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro). A thrilling international cast sing Mozart’s masterpiece of mayhem, mischief, wit and love. Houston Grand Opera (HGO) presents Mozart‘s musical comedy of manners, The Marriage of Figaro from April 15 – 30, 2011. Sung by a cast of artists from around the world with dazzling voices, sheer charismatic stage presence and looks to match.

This classic Göran Järvefelt production- the set is inspired by the original 18th century Drottningholm Court Theatre, Stockholm - will be brought to life by Italian bass baritone, Luca Pisaroni performing the smooth Count Almaviva, Ellie Dehn will sing the Countess, Adriana Kucerová will play the lively Susanna engaged to Figaro, who is sung by Patrick Carfizzi.

Starting with the sparkling and rousing overture, Mozart‘s score will be conducted by young American conductor, James Gaffigan, making his Houston Grand Opera debut.

Based on a play by Pierre Beaumarchais, The Marriage of Figaro is both a dramatic political satire and a saucy domestic play. Rich with subversive wit that highlights the domestic struggle against the class struggle, (It is said that Beaumarchais‘ play foreshadowed the French Revolution) Mozart and his librettist, Lorenzo da Ponte, perfectly capture the tight divide between bitter and sweet, tragedy and comedy.

First performed in 1784, The Marriage of Figaro is set in Count Almaviva‘s castle, Spain. Figaro, a valet to the Count, is engaged to Susanna, a chambermaid to the Countess. When Figaro hears that the lecherous Count has eyes for his betrothed Susanna, and intends to use his position to assert his 'droit du seigneur’- right of the first night, he sets in motion a plan to give the Count a taste of his own medicine.

Realizing he only has his wits and love as weapons, Figaro employs help from the long-suffering Countess to outsmart the Count. With many twists and turns, comedic misunderstandings and revelations followed by humiliation and forgiveness, the wily Figaro finally outwits his master.

Showcasing the complexities of human emotion, none more so than when the Countess sings, 'Porgi, amor', a rich yearning aria of love for her philandering husband, the Count, Mozart and da Pont reveal their deep understanding of what it is to be human.

Sung in Italian with English Surtitles.

Photo courtesy of Houston Grand Opera. Photo by Jim Caldwell.