Le Nozze Di Figaro

[Conchis]

My main memory of David McVicar's very handsome Covent Garden production (which I saw at its premiere and is still in the repertory) is of prolonged visual tedium. After a while, it helped if you shut your eyes.

Mozart is widely considered to be a 'directors' graveyard' as far as staging is concerned.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Mozart is widely considered to be a 'directors' graveyard' as far as staging is concerned.

Perhaps that's only a problem when they try to be too clever...

I did see one appalling Opera North production in York, where the attention-seeking director had the characters hiding behind trees that were small hand mirrors in the shape of trees.

[Bryn]

Perhaps that's only a problem when they try to be too clever...

I am generally more in favour of a HIPP approach to Mozart, and that includes the staging. I think it particularly daft when a 'modern' staging is 'accompanied' by a HIPP orchestral component.

[Conchis]

Perhaps that's only a problem when they try to be too clever...

The best Mozart production I have seen was Opera North's (still current) Don Giovanni. There was plenty in it to outrage an audience (Zerlina sang Batti, Batti while being penetrated by Masetto) but in other parts it was inventive and amusing. It didn't treat the source material with paralysing reverence and that was certainly a good move.

[Conchis]

I am generally more in favour of a HIPP approach to Mozart, and that includes the staging. I think it particularly daft when a 'modern' staging is 'accompanied' by a HIPP orchestral component.

When the Peter Sellers productions of the Da Ponte operas were shown on BBC2 back in 1991, someone famously wrote to Radio Times: 'I enjoy Peter Sellers' production of Don Giovanni - but why did it have such an inappropriate soundtrack?'

[Barbirollians]

I think it’s remarkable that Beaumarchais’ play was still banned in Austria when Mozart and da Ponte decided to turn it into an opera. They had to make changes to omit some of the revolutionary ideas. It’s often shortened slightly - arias of Don Basilio and Marcellina(?) omitted. Not sure that any opera is really ‘intended’ to be funny.

The Laurent Pelly productions of LElisir d'Amore and especially La Fille du Regiment are very funny especially the latter with Dessay and Florez at the ROH.

[Conchis]

The Laurent Pelly productions of LElisir d'Amore and especially La Fille du Regiment are very funny especially the latter with Dessay and Florez at the ROH.

A pity he came such a cropper with his production of Meyerbeer's (worthless) Robert Le Diable (or 'Naughty Bob' as I insisted on calling it).

[french frank]

Back to topic - the key role in the opera is, of course, Susanna (Lucia Popp in the sublime Solti recording) - discuss

Yes, the whole Beaumarchais plot is about the servants outwitting the aristocracy (in the person of the count) and Figaro is just a tiny bit dim.

[Lordgeous]

Staging aside, isnt the music outstanding? Every note to me seems precious, the arias and especially the ensembles. The invention is remarkable. Mozart 'clicked' with me in my early 20s and Ive never looked back. I think Figaro still heads my top ten list of all time favourites. "All human life is there"!

[french frank]

Staging aside, isnt the music outstanding? Every note to me seems precious, the arias and especially the ensembles. The invention is remarkable. Mozart 'clicked' with me in my early 20s and Ive never looked back. I think Figaro still heads my top ten list of all time favourites. "All human life is there"!

That’s about my view too (although I ‘rejected’ Mozart when I was in my 20s ). Complex plots are often the essence of comedies and silliness is part of the comedy. But there are touching moments too and I don’t like the distinction blurred.

[Stanfordian]

OT, I wonder how many seemingly complicated plots could be reduced to a single sentence - along the lines of: "Gypsy throws wrong baby onto fire". You never know, if it catches on it might be worth a thread of its own - let's see

Another Verdi favourite of mine is Simon Boccanegra - now that's a tricky one.

Back to topic - the key role in the opera is, of course, Susanna (Lucia Popp in the sublime Solti recording) - discuss

When Lucia Popp died when only in her fifties the world lost a remarkable singer.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

When Lucia Popp died when only in her fifties the world lost a remarkable singer.

- and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, and Tessa Bonner ... and Ferrier only 41 ... and so many, many others (remarkable sngers or not).

I feel a donation to cancer research coming on.

[french frank]

- and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, and Tessa Bonner ... and Ferrier only 41 ... and so many, many others (remarkable sngers or not).

Arleen Auger. I still find her performance of Abe dfindung heart-rending . Sorry, I’m fed with trying to insert that missing n.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Staging aside, isnt the music outstanding? Every note to me seems precious, the arias and especially the ensembles. The invention is remarkable. Mozart 'clicked' with me in my early 20s and Ive never looked back. I think Figaro still heads my top ten list of all time favourites. "All human life is there"!

- Mozart, like Austen, didn't fully "click" with me until I was well into my twenties, but Figaro was one of the works that always appealed ... and continues to do so: every precious note of it.

And I also find it very funny - the Count uncovering Cherubino in Act One; the whole business around Antonio in Act Two - and unbelievably poignant and moving at the "perdono" even whilst you just know this is a contingent repentance - perhaps so moving precisely because of this. No better opera ever composed.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Arleen Auger.

Oh, gosh, yes!