The ensemble of ENO from the 2020 production of The Marriage of Figaro
A revival of English National Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro, “as ingenious as it is engrossing” (Evening Standard), “Slick, cool and a lot of fun” (Telegraph) and “The escapist tonic you need” (The Times), opens in London next week.
In a co-production with Oper Wuppertal, this revival of ENO’s 2020 production of Mozart’s opera buffa is directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, who brings his staging into a contemporary setting with a minimalist backdrop, whilst still highlighting the wit and comedy which Mozart intended.
Johnathan McCullough and Louise Alder in ENO’s 2020 production of The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro stars former ENO Harewood Artist, David Ireland, in the title role, Internationally renowned British soprano and another former ENO Harewood Artist, Mary Bevan, is Susanna, his fiancée. The production is conducted by Ainārs Rubiķis, following his many successes as Music Director with the Komische Oper, Berlin.
Amusing and entertaining, yet subtly philosophical, The Marriage of Figaro was Mozart’s response to an invitation by Count Orsini-Rosenberg, director of the Burgtheater in Vienna, to write a comic opera. The Italian libretto – based on a 1784 play Le Mariage de Figaro by Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais – was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte, and it was at the Burgtheater that the opera was premiered on May 1st, 1786. It remains a favourite in the operatic repertoire.
Hanna Hipp with members of the ENO Chorus in the 2020 production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro
The action takes place in the palace of the Count Almavia, near Seville, and revolves around the actions of the Countess Rosina, who plots – with her servant Susanna – to ensure that her philandering husband gets his just deserts. Susanna – who is betrothed to the Count’s valet, Figaro – is one of the objects of the Count’s desire, which implicates Figaro as well, while the physician Doctor Bartholo – who himself wanted to marry Rosina – also has a reason to seek revenge on the Count.
Bass-baritone David Ireland’s many recent performances have included his debuts at Irish National Opera as Gessler in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell, as Quince in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Opéra de Lille, a recital of Vaughan Williams at Genoa’s Opera Carlo Felice, at Welsh National Opera as Figaro in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, at the Opéra d’Avignon as Colline in Puccini’s La bohème and at the BBC Proms as a soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music. He has also appeared for English National Opera in roles which include Doctor Bartolo in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Colline in La bohème, and the Sacristan in Puccini’s Tosca.
Božidar Smiljanić and Louise Alder in ENO’s 2020 production of The Marriage of Figaro
During this current season, soprano Mary Bevan, of whom Opera Today writes: “Bevan’s control of colour and line was superb, and her sweet tone heart-winning”, returns to Opera di Roma as Morgana in Handel’s Alcina, and makes her debut with the Semperoper Dresden as Michal in Handel’s Saul. Last season, she appeared as Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with Opera di Roma, sang the role of Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Barokksolistine in Denmark, and debuted with the Zurich Opera House in Rameau’s La Folie Platée.
Also in the cast, as Count Almaviva, is American bass-baritone Cody Quattlebaum whose operatic and concert repertoire ranges from the Baroque to contemporary, Nardus Williams, whom Opera Today describes as a ‘superbly controlled, sensuous soprano’, is Countess Almaviva, bass-baritone Neal Davies is Dr Bartolo, his housemaid Marcellina is sung by soprano Rebecca Evans, mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp is Cherubino the page and tenor Hubert Francis is Don Basilio, Susanna’s music teacher, and lawyer Don Cursio.
Božidar Smiljanić and Susan Bickley in ENO’s 2020 production of The Marriage of Figaro
Ainārs Rubiķis leads the English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus in seven performances of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the London Coliseum between 5th and 22nd February. Further information is available on the ENO website and tickets may be reserved online.
All photographs are from ENO’s 2020 production © Marc Brenner
Information sourced from:
ENO programme notes
The Marriage of Figaro
Artists’ websites
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