The Marriage of Figaro | Le nozze di Figaro
The Marriage of FigaroLe nozze di Figaro
Overview
Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment. Herman Prey's Figaro is admirably sung in a firm baritone and aptly characterized. So too, is his antagonist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the Count perpetually frustrated by the scheming wiles of Figaro and Susanna, here the perky Mirella Freni, who sings and acts like a dream. The Countess is creamy-voiced Kiri Te Kanawa, and the Cherubino, Maria Ewing, looks just like the horny, teenaged page she's supposed to be. The all-star leads are complemented by worthy supporting singers, the Vienna Philharmonic at the top of its form, and the experienced Mozartian, Karl Böhm conducting a stylishly fleet performance.
Cast
Hermann Prey
Mirella Freni
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Kiri Te Kanawa
Maria Ewing
Heather Begg
Paolo Montarsolo
John van Kesteren
Willy Caron
Hans Kraemmer
Janet Perry
Karl Böhm
Crew
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Lorenzo da Ponte
Ernst Wild
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
