by Paul J. Pelkonen
Ildar Abdrazakov is Figaro in the Met's new production of Le Nozze di Figaro.
Photo by Anne Deniau © 2014 The Metropolitan Opera.
Figaro is a long four-act comedy but it is packed end to end with Mozart's most inspired writing for the voice. From the title character's challenging "Se vuol bailare" and "Non più andrai" to the twenty minute add-a-voice ensemble that ends the second act, this score never fails to please the ear. The finale of Act IV ("Contessa perdono") is the best part, a moving plea for reconciliation between the major characters as the comic doings finally come to a serious head.
This new production by Bartlett Sher (the fifth by the award-winning director under the aegis of Met general manager Peter Gelb) features Ildar Abdrazakov in the title role, which he last sang at the Met two seasons ago. The wily valet's schemes inspire the everyman to rise up against his aristocratic oppressors. Whether leaping out of windows or helping his fiancée Susanna (Marlis Petersen) avoid the unwanted attentions of Count Almaviva, (Peter Mattei) Figaro is an operatic trickster with great music to sing.
The real heroes of this show, however are the unhappy, tormented Countess Almaviva (Amanda Majeski, a late replacement for Marina Poplavskaya) and Susanna (Marliss Petersen) the pert lady's-maid who has more music to sing than any other character in the opera. Also in the mix: the page Cherubino (Isabel Leonard) an amorous butterfly whose endless overtures to every female character in the cast provides the motor that makes the plot spin. James Levine conducts.
Le Nozze di Figaro opens Sept. 22 Opening night of the Met will be telecast live in Lincoln Center Plaza and Times Square. Attendance for the telecasts is free. A Live in HD screening in movie theaters is scheduled for Oct. 18. A second run of performances starts Dec. 4.
Recording Recommendations:
Like its titular barber, Figaro gets around on disc. Here are three excellent recordings of Mozart's beloved comedy.
Vienna Philharmonic cond. Erich Leinsdorf. (Decca 1955)
Figaro: Cesare Siepi
Susanna: Hilde Gueden
Count Almaviva: Alfred Poell
Countess Rosina: Lisa della Casa
Cherubino: Suzanne Danco
The heavyweight champion. Finally given a proper CD mastering in 1999, this effervescent performance by the senior Kleiber with the Vienna Philharmonic is anchored by a phenomenal cast, which includes Hilde Gueden, Cesare Siepi and Fernando Corena. And did we mention the Goddess of Vienna, Lisa della Casa, radiant yet mournful as Mozart's Countess.
Chor und Orchester der Deutsches Oper Berlin cond. Karl Böhm (DG, 1968)
Figaro: Hermann Prey
Susanna: Edith Mathis
Count Almaviva: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Countess Rosina: Gundula Janowitz
Cherubino: Tatiana Troyanos
With Hermann Prey as Figaro and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as Almaviva, this German-flavored recording has a pair of very strong leads. Rich comic timing, crisp, nimble performances and a great Mozartean at the helm. A loveable Figaro and the first one I reach for. And with a cast that includes Gundula Janowitz, Edith Mathis and Tatiana Troyanos, can you blame me?
English Baroque Soloists cond. John Eliot Gardiner. (DG Archiv 1994)
Figaro: Bryn Terfel
Susanna: Alison Hagley
Count Almaviva: Rod Gilfry
Countess Rosina: Hillevi Martenpelto
Cherubino: Pamela Helen Stephen
Quicksilver conducting dominates this live recording made at the Theatre du Chatelet and filmed for release on VHS and DVD. (In fact, this was one of the first opera DVDs released by DG back in 2000!) This set marks the (recorded) debut of Bryn Terfel as Figaro, alongside a strong cast of future stars that includes Rodney Gilfrey and Alison Hagley. Pamela Helen Stephen is an excellent Cherubino. Hillevi Martinpelto gives an emotional, carefully weighted portrait of the Countess, the perfect, irresistible compliment to the macho bluster of the two male leads.
