Venue: Theatre

Dates: Aug. 03, 2016-Aug. 07, 2016

Le Nozze di Figaro is one of the most famous operas created by Mozart in 1786 during the summit of his composing life. The libretto was adapted by the court poet Lorenzo Da Ponte from the same-title novel written by the French comedy writer Pierre Beaumarchais. The Enlightenment writer has written three comedies setting the background in Spain, The Barber of Seville, Le Nozze di Figaro and Sinful Mothers, the major roles and the plot of which are consistent. Le Nozze di Figaro was written in a witty and ironic tone to reflect the raising social status of the French civilians, who were in the third class at that time. The fresh, humorous and vivid plot extols the triumph between the people and the hypocritical aristocrats. The whole story is written in a bright humor with a circuitous and lively plot, which expresses its anti-feudal attitude while colored with strong and flexible comedy effect.

It takes Mozart two years to compose the work painstakingly. The whole opera features witty and brisk tones, retaining the artistic style of its original novel. The story sets its music on the sharp contrast between the folly and dissipated noble and the smart servant Figaro, molding such vivid roles as vibrant and witty Figaro, elegant and implicit Countess Rosina, intelligent and cute Susanna, and so on. The music in this opera, like the overture, Figaro's aria Non Piu Andrai, Rosina's aria, as well as the duo, all have become unfading classics thriving through the years.

Le Nozze di Figaro premiered at Vienna Burg Theater on May 1st, 1786, and the conductor was Mozart himself. A theme being too vanguard for the social culture at that time, some nobles resented it and even the Vienna Emperor asked him to revise the plot under immense pressures, despite the fact that the Emperor loved the work very much. The German version of the opera was put on in Berlin in 1790.

NCPA's production of Le Nozze di Figaro premiered on August 15th, 2013. The director Mr. Jose Luis Castro, who comes from Seville where the story takes place and thoroughly understands the local history and culture, enriches the opera by adding some original elements of Seville. The director substitutes the theme of love for rights and politics. The elements of love are embodied through the roles and lie in every corner of the stage. Different patterns of love are shifting and sublimating among roles as the story continues, which surpasses the limit of the time and space and brings the audience an endless aftertaste.

Credits

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Director: José Luis Castro

Set Designer: Giuliano Spinelli

Lighting Designer: Vinicio Cheli

Choreographer & Revival Director: Alessandra Panzavolta

Source: www.chncpa.org