This production makes me feel like Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells. The director, Kirill Serebrennikov aims to make opera relevant. But too much has been sacrificed for a shallow satire of the rich.
Luckily, like love, the singing overcomes all
Ironies abound in Serebrennikov’s championing of the poor. The costumes are black uniforms, making it difficult to tell characters apart - especially from the cheaper seats. The clever set (split horizontally for upstairs, downstairs) means that those in the gods will struggle to see the downstairs singers’ heads. Storytelling seems willfully opaque, with confusing fantasy sequences, such as the Count’s threesome with his wife and Susanna, or where a kitchen boy murders most of the cast. There are invented characters, and the deliciously erotic role of Cherubino has been turned into a strapping #MeTo offending lout.
The end result is that it is impossible to follow the story without prior knowledge. Fine for wealthy connoisseurs, but hardly welcoming for anyone else.
Unnecessary stage business constantly distracts attention from the singers. It almost feels like the director is as disrespectful of the singers as the Count is of his servants.
Luckily, like love, the singing overcomes all. In this opera women are Boss, and Patricia Nolz was glorious as Cherubina, Verity Wingate was deeply moving as The Countess and Suzzana was played with command and charisma by Penny Sofroniadou. The cast have settled into beautiful duets and trios, and the choral work was supernatural.
Go for the singing and music. Maybe you will have more tolerance than me for the production.
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UK PRODUCTION PREMIERE
The acclaimed Komische Oper Berlin and director Kirill Serebrennikov, known for his daring, satirical productions, present Mozart’s iconic comic opera.
Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro contains all the ingredients for the quintessential romantic comedy. In a new production of this iconic opera, Komische Oper Berlin and their Music Director James Gaffigan unite with film, theatre and opera director Kirill Serebrennikov.
Performed at breakneck tempo, the lively plot unfolds over the course of one hectic day: the day before Figaro and Susanna’s wedding. Not only is the couple’s employer Count Almaviva a notorious philanderer, but their new bedroom is concerningly close to his. While the Count has his eye on Susanna, the House of Almaviva is filled with a host of characters all with their own schemes of love, trickery and revenge. Amid the chaos, Figaro and Susanna conspire with the rejected Countess to outwit her deceitful husband.
Known for his daring and satirical interpretations of classics, Serebrennikov’s take on The Marriage of Figaro is his UK directorial debut.
This production of The Marriage of Figaro is a fully staged opera.
Buy standard price tickets for three or more operas and get 20% off. Excludes concessions and top-price tickets, more details over on Booking Info.
Supported by James and Morag Anderson
A souvenir programme is available for this performance. Available at the venue for £10 (card only). You can also pick up a freesheet with all the essential information you’ll need.
Mozart Composer
Komische Oper Berlin
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
James Gaffigan Conductor
Kirill Serebrennikov Director, Set & Costume Designer
Olga Pavlyuk Set Co-Designer
Tatyana Dolmatovskaya Costume Co-Designer
Evgeny Kulagin Choreographer
Ilya Shagalov Video
Julia Jordà Stoppelhaar, Daniil Orlov Dramaturgy
Cast
Hubert Zapiór* Andrey Zhilikhovsky^ Count Almaviva
Verity Wingate* Nadja Mchantaf^ Countess Almaviva
Penny Sofroniadou* Siobhan Stagg^ Susanna
Peter Kellner* Tommaso Barea^ Figaro
Patricia Nolz* Susan Zarrabi^ Cherubina
Karolina Gumos* Ulrike Helzel^ Marcellina
Tijl Faveyts* Philipp Meierhöfer^ Bartolo
Johannes Dunz* Ivan Turšić^ Basilio
Peter Lobert Antonio
Georgy Kudrenko Cherubino
Nikita Elenev The Count's Henchman
Mikhail Polyakov The Young Man
Susanne Bredehöft The Old Woman
*16 & 18 Aug
^ 17 Aug
