Libretto by Lorenzo
da Ponte
English translation
and adaptation by Michael Gow
Music by Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Directed by Michael
Gow
Conductor: Paul
Fitzsimon
Opera Australia
Canberra Theatre Centre
to 27 August
Review by Len Power
25 August 2016
First performed in Vienna in 1786, Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of
Figaro’ has gone on to become one of the most popular operas of all time.
The amusing story involves a wealthy household in Seville. Figaro is marrying Susanna, but the Count
wants to seduce her first. Marcellina
wants Figaro and the Countess just wants her husband back. Plots and counter-plots fly thick and fast
and, of course, everything works out fine in the end.
Michael Gow’s translation and production adds freshness and
down to earth contemporary humour while remaining true to its period. Sung in English, great care has been taken with
diction to ensure the words can be clearly heard and the physical action of the
farcical aspects of the plot has been very cleverly staged. The performers all present in depth,
realistic characterizations and display a gift for comedy in their delivery.
The fine ensemble of singers all gave musically strong and
satisfying performances. Steven Gallop’s
distinctive bass voice for Doctor Bartolo was heard superbly in his ‘Vengeance’
aria. Emma Castelli sang a nicely
emotional ‘Porgi amor, qualche ristoro’ and Celeste Lazarenko gave a delightful
‘Voi que sapete che cosa รจ amor’, one of the most well-known arias in opera. In fact, the highlights were too numerous to
mention – everyone in the cast had their moment to shine. There was also especially fine singing by the
local choir of young voices and they looked delightful in their costumes.
Nicely conducted by Paul Fitzsimon, the eight piece
orchestra played very well but needed more strength in the strings at
times. The production designed by Robert
Kemp was simple, very practical and attractive. The cast were dressed in fine period costumes. The lighting design by Matt Scott complemented
the set very well and the use of footlights gave some nice shadow effects.
‘The Marriage Of Figaro’ is always a lot of fun but this
production makes things a lot clearer and accessible for today’s
audiences. If this was the first opera
you decided to try, you couldn’t do any better.
Len Power’s reviews
can also be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Artcetera’ program from 9am on
Saturdays.