The Utah Opera’s latest production, The Marriage of Figaro, opened last Saturday at the Capitol Theater. Figaro, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sequel to The Barber of Seville, is sung in the original Italian with English supertitles.
The Marriage of Figaro‘s plot is complicated, to say the least. The story is Based on La Folle Journ’ee, ou le Marriage de Figaro by Pierre Beaumarchais. The opera originally premiered in Prague in December of 1786, five years before Mozart’s death.
In the first act alone, no less than eight characters are introduced, each involved in at least one love triangle. On top of this, there are cases of mistaken identities, and a trial of forgiveness. The comedy’s chaos is resolved into a happy ending, all in the course of one day — a complicated structure that even Shakespeare would not attempt.
Each performance will be accompanied live by the Utah Symphony, conducted by Christopher Larkin. Larkin has conducted on opera podiums across the country, and served as Music Director of the New York City Opera National Company. He was also the Associate Conductor of the Houston Grand Opera.
Stage director David Gately has also worked in opera houses across the United States as well as Canada. His 2008-09 season alone includes directing operas from RIGOLETTO to CARMEN to LA CENERENTOLA, each in different operas across the North American continent.
The performance, estimated to run three hours and twenty minutes long, will have two intermissions. The concessions available in the lobby are delicious, but you may have time to grab food from your car if you parked in the lot across the street. Just don’t tell the ushers.
The Marriage of Figaro includes performers returning to the Utah Opera, as well as a few fresh faces. The returning performers include Kathryn Cowdrick, Nicolle Foland, Jon Kolbet, Gregory Pearson, and Michael Wanko.
Each performance will be followed by a question and answer session with Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth. The session will take place in the Founders room on the mezzanine level, and is free for all performance attendees.
UTAH OPERA
The Marriage of Figaro
March 14, 16, 18, 20: 7:30 PM
March 22: 2 PM
Capitol Theatre
50 W. 200 S. Salt Lake City
Tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances are $15-$83. Tickets for Monday and Wednesday performances are $13-$83. Tickets can be purchased by calling (801) 355-ARTS (355-2787), 1-888-451-2787, in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office, the Capitol Theatre box office or by visiting www.utahsymphonyopera.org. Subscribers and those desiring group or student discounts should call (801) 533-NOTE (533-6683).
