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Opera Australia has secured three of the world’s finest singers to make their Australian debuts in Sir David McVicar’s celebrated production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the Sydney Opera House this summer.
A regular on the stage of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala and opera houses around Europe, impressive Italian baritone Mario Cassi will debut as the Count, a role he has perfected in Liege and Dresden. Stellar Russian soprano Ekaterina Morozova will debut as the Countess, a role she performed at the Bolshoi in late 2021, and rising star Venetian bass-baritone Tommaso Barea debuts, as Figaro himself, opposite celebrated Australian soprano Stacey Alleaume as clever servant Susanna.
All characters as witty, passionate and cunning as each other, Mozart’s light-hearted comedy presents a classic domestic spectacle of master against servants.
Renowned director Sir David McVicar stages the entertaining romp in the mid-1600s, with luxurious period costumes and sets by Tony Award-winning designer Jenny Tiramani, and clever lighting signifying transitions in time by David Finn. Talented director and Opera Australia regular, Andy Morton, leads this year’s production as revival director.
Accomplished Italian maestro Andrea Molino returns to Australia to conduct the Opera Australia Orchestra and Chorus through Mozart’s witty, fast-moving libretto and melodic, charming music.
Based on a play that was initially banned for its anti-aristocratic undertones, this sharp cat-and- mouse comedy that heroes the underclass will delight and entertain audiences as it has done since its 1786 debut in Vienna.
The Marriage of Figaro features a world-class lineup both on stage and behind the scenes, with the named cast and creatives announced as:
Conductor Andrea Molino
Director Sir David McVicar
Revival Director Andy Morton
Set & Costume Designer Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer David Finn
Assistant Director Justice Jones Massaad
Count Mario Cassi
Countess Ekaterina Morozova
Figaro Tommaso Barea
Susanna Stacey Alleaume
Cherubino Agnes Sarkis
Dr Bartolo Richard Anderson
Marcellina Sian Sharp
Don Basilio Benjamin Rasheed
Don Curzio Stuart Haycock
Barbarina Danita Weatherstone
Antonio Andrew Moran
First Bridesmaid Celeste Lazarenko
Second Bridesmaid Angela Hogan
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. How do you know you’re listening to Mozart? He wrote stunning melodies, often with lots and lots of notes.
When Mozart lived in Salzburg, the emperor is said to have remarked of his music: “Too beautiful for our ears, my dear Mozart, and vastly too many notes!” To which Mozart supposedly replied, “Just as many as are necessary, your majesty!”
Mozart sought out stories for the music he already wished to write, believing “in an opera the poetry must at all costs be the obedient daughter of the music”.
The Count has his eye on Susanna, his valet Figaro’s bride-to-be. She might just be a servant, but Susanna’s pretty savvy and determined he won’t have his way — especially on their wedding day! Figaro is outraged, but he’s got bigger problems: he owes money to a spinster who will only let the debt go if he marries her. The Countess is sick to death of her husband’s wandering eye, and enlists Susanna to help win him back.
They all need the help of Cherubino, the lovesick youth who loves not just the Countess, but anyone who looks his way. But Susanna is smarter than all of them. After a crazy day of disguise and duplicity, will she get her happily ever after?
Count Almaviva — Head of the household
The Countess — Almaviva’s wife (you might know her as Rosina, from The Barber of Seville)
Susanna — the Countess’ maid
Figaro — personal valet to the Count
Cherubino — The Count’s Page
‘Non più andrai’ — as the Count orders Cherubino off to war, Figaro jokes about the new life in store for him: one with no women!
The Shawshank Redemption features a beautiful duet from The Marriage of Figaro (as the Countess and Susanna compose a letter), in a fantastic scene that revels in Mozart’s beautiful music.
The madness of The Marriage of Figaro takes place on a single summer’s day, and Mozart sets the pace in the overture: the strings scurrying all over the scale while the cellos and basses murmur away under it all.
A naturalistic staging by director Sir David McVicar. It opens a “comic cauldron of sex and social politics” (Limelight), where the comedy has a dark, sharp edge.
Jenny Tiramani’s extraordinary 17th-century designs clothe the aristocracy in ravishing silks and the servants in cornflower blue. A historical fashion specialist, Tiramani’s costumes are stunning in detail and authentic in design. David Finn’s radiant lighting streams through vaulted windows to light enormous rooms in sunlight and moonbeams as day turns to night.
The Marriage of Figaro will be performed at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at Sydney Opera House, and is scheduled for evening performances at 7pm on the dates of:
27th & 29th January
1st, 3rd, 5th, 10th, 14th, 16th, 18th February
There is also a Saturday matinee performance taking place at 12pm on 12th February.
The opera runs for approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes (including interval) and is performed in Italian with English subtitles.
Adult tickets start from $79 and are available from the Opera Australia Box Office.
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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