Norm Hollingshead presents preview of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’

Published 11:46 am Saturday, January 9, 2016

Join opera aficionado Norm Hollingshead for a preview of the Seattle Opera’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Bainbridge Public Library.

Hollingshead will talk about the plot and music from this Mozart/Lorenzo DaPonte collaboration.

The free program is funded by the Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library.

“The Marriage of Figaro” comes to McCaw Hall Jan. 16-30.

With beloved maestro Gary Thor Wedow at the podium, general director Aidan Lang brings his acclaimed production to Seattle in his company directorial debut. When Lang premiered this Figaro at New Zealand Opera, it was lauded as “engrossing, astute, and unmissable” (The New Zealand Herald).

“The Marriage of Figaro has something for everyone,” Lang said. “This is the story of one madcap day; a day where people’s follies are exposed for all to see and laugh at, but one which concludes with one of opera’s greatest scenes of forgiveness and reconciliation. While these characters are highly flawed, they’re also drawn with a warm humanity we can all relate to.”

It’s the night before Figaro and Susanna’s marriage when the curtain rises, and Count Almaviva’s wandering eye has landed on the bride-to-be. Servant and master must go head-to-head on a day of chaos, planning and missed chances that will result in a wedding—or two! Thankfully, with a little unintentional help from the page Cherubino, three very different couples will ultimately walk away a little wiser and with true love in hand. From its toe-tapping overture to joyous ending, “The Marriage of Figaro” offers fun for opera goers of all ages—as well as newcomers to opera, too.

Making his Seattle Opera debut as Figaro is Chinese bass-baritone Shenyang—an internationally celebrated singer who’s been profiled on National Public Radio.

Aubrey Allicock, who recently made headlines playing boxer Emilie Griffith in an all-jazz opera, shares the title role.

Sicilian soprano Nuccia Focile returns in the role of Figaro’s beautiful bride, Susanna.

Focile, a regular star on the McCaw Hall stage, has previously been praised in various leading roles at Seattle Opera, including “La Voix humanie” (2013), a one-woman show. Focile shares the role of Figaro’s beloved with American soprano Talise Trevigne, who makes both her role and company debut.

Morgan Smith returns to Seattle Opera after this summer’s “An American Dream” (2015) to play the philandering Count Almaviva, opposite Bernarda Bobro as the

Countess in her company debut. John Moore will also sing Count Almaviva in his company debut opposite Caitlin Lynch.

American mezzo-soprano Karin Mushegain will don trousers to sing the “pants role” of Cherubino, the cheeky adolescent page boy. Elizabeth Pojanowski will make her company debut in Figaro, also singing Cherubino.

Additionally, this performance sees the return of Margaret Gawrysiak (Marcellina), Arthur Woodley (Dr. Bartolo), Steven Cole (Don Basilio), Alasdair Elliot (Don Curzio), Amanda Opuszynski (Barbarina) and the debut performance of Charles Robert Austin (Antonio).

Along with Lang, Robin Rawstone (sets) and Elizabeth Williams (costumes) make their company debuts bringing this sleek production—which includes period costumes fashioned out of denim—to life.

“The Marriage of Figaro” premieres Saturday, Jan. 16, and runs through Saturday, Jan. 30.