Planning a wedding is a piece of cake…

It’s the big day for Susanna and Figaro, but everywhere they turn it’s a wedding disaster waiting to happen!  One of their bosses is having a major– and justified–meltdown, and the other is hoping to sleep with the bride. The groom’s overdue debt comes calling, and then there’s the cousin who shows up everywhere… except where he is supposed to be!

About the Story

W.A. Mozart and Lorenzo da Ponte’s The Marriage of Figaro premiered in 1786 and has stood the test of time as one of Opera’s greatest comedies. The story follows two witty servants, Figaro and Susanna, as they navigate the many obstacles that threaten to keep them from having the happy day they have been planning for. The story takes place at the estate of a wealthy Count, whose household includes servants, neighbours, cousins, who make an altogether a rowdy cast of characters.  

We’ll meet the Countess, whose marriage has left her feeling isolated and betrayed, and the Count, who can’t quite see (or doesn’t care to see?) how he is hurting those around him. The young page Cherubino is a whirlwind of desire, curiosity, and exuberance that gets him both in AND out of trouble. Figaro and Susanna work overtime to manage this unruly house, while also hoping to tie the knot and build their own future together.

While both our lead characters are quick on their feet, it’s in many ways the extraordinary wit of Susanna that drives both the story and the heart of this piece. Susanna is a compassionate companion, a savvy friend, the love of Figaro’s life, and a wily adversary for those who get in her way. Drawing on the support of her sweetheart and friends, Susanna navigates a very complicated day so that everyone can live happily ever after … or will they?

About the Music

Mozart’s musical character development is as good as it gets.  He brilliantly depicts the many aspects of humanity through his musical genius and this genius is especially true in Le nozze di Figaro, or The Marriage of Figaro.  It is a numbers opera, which means we have very defined ‘numbers’ made up of solo arias, ensembles of duets, trios, right up to a septet, and choruses.  All of these elements are stitched together with recitative which is like musical speech zipping us through the stage action.

Each of the arias is a gem: it allows the performers to share their character’s emotional state and individuality.  We get the full gamut of human emotion displayed throughout this opera, and  the magic really has its biggest highlights in the ensembles.  Mozart brilliantly balances the musical textures to allow the audience to understand how all of the relationships are working, while marveling at the sheer beauty of his melodies and harmonies. The famous duet Sull’ aria sung by Susanna and the Countess is absolutely sublime and it’s only one of many breathtaking moments.  Each of the four acts has a remarkable finale that involves most of the characters, and they have thrilled audiences the world over with their musical and dramatic climaxes.

What to Expect

The Marriage of Figaro is a feast for both the eyes and the ears. Audiences who are new to the work will almost certainly recognize music from its extensive circulation in television and film: the bursts of energy in the Overture, the Countess and Susanna’s exquisite duet “Sull’Aria” (“On the air”) and Cherubino’s song of longing “Voi Che Sapete” or  (“You who know”), to name just a few.

The familiar trappings of a comedic plot include dressing in disguise, listening at keyholes, hiding behind furniture, and sending sneaky notes: the sheer physical comedy will invite our audience to laugh out loud. And then, just when you wrote off a character as simple caricature or an easy villain, Mozart and da Ponte invite you to take a second look at how very human they are.

The Marriage of Figaro  is written in 4 acts, which in our production will be presented in 2 halves with one intermission.

What makes this madcap story so special is how it blends the hi-jinx of a classic comedy with earnest, heartfelt, and even heartbreaking moments that the characters each take in their turn. 

Opera Kelowna’s production of The Marriage of Figaro is set in the early 1800s on a European estate, while taking some important liberties with period-appropriate colour schemes. And with Wigs.