Review: Opera Australia’s The Marriage of Figaro

Opera Australia brings one of Mozart’s most rambunctious operas back to life with it’s production of The Marriage of Figaro.

The great American novelist Willa Cather once said, “Where there is great love, there are always miracles”. The great steward Figaro (Paolo Bordogna) received his fair share of miracles on a crazy summer’s day in the lead up to tying the knot with his true love Suzanna (Taryn Fiebig).

The practice of the ‘Droit de Seigneur’ (a masters right to bed any servant on her wedding night) by Count Almaviva (Andrei Bondarenko) looms over Suzanna, while Figaro escapes a previous deal to marry the housekeeper Marcellina (Jacqueline Dark) who is later revealed to be Figaro’s long lost mother. However with the help of many in the wild castle including the Countessa (Nicole Car), Barbarina (Eva Kong) and the daft pageboy Cherubino (Anna Dowsley), Figaro and Suzanna end up in ecstatic union.

Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte composed wonderfully euphoric arias for this four act opera buffa way back in the 1780s; which were impeccably performed by a luminous cast. As the Countessa Almaviva, Nicole Car was outstanding in her aria ‘Dovo sono i bei momenti’ (‘Where are they, the beautiful moments’).

Conductor Guillaume Tourniaire opened the opera’s overture, with great vitality and vigour performed by the incredible Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. Thanks to Director Sir David McVicar and designer Jenny Tiramani. Opera Australia’s Marriage of Figaro is a scream, chic and brilliantly chaotic. (PU)

Until August 29, various show times. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $44-$330. Tickets & info: sydneyoperahouse.com or 9318 8200

By Peter Urquhart