Scottish Opera, The Marriage of Figaro

Internationally renowned opera star Sir Thomas Allen returns to Scottish Opera to direct a new production of Mozart’s masterpiece The Marriage of Figaro. Despite over 35 years experience singing the role of Count (and one singing Figaro himself) in The Marriage of Figaro, this will be the first time Sir Thomas has directed the opera – and in what is sure to be a marriage made in heaven, he returns with the same team that created Scottish Opera’s successful The Barber of Seville in 2007. The Marriage of Figaro takes place on the ‘day of madness’ that precedes the servant Figaro’s wedding and centres on a convoluted plot involving attempts by his boss, the once charming Count Almaviva, to send things awry. Figaro was one of the first operas with a plot based on the everyday lives of real people - rather than myth or fantasy – and in its depiction of the ‘upstairs downstairs’ world that the characters inhabit, fired several salvos that rocked the class-based 18th century society to its very core. In highlighting the comedy, energy, passion and danger that are the hallmarks of the opera, Sir Thomas promises a traditional and truthful approach. The look and feel of the production will remain faithful to the stylishness and elegance of the time, with sets and costumes hand-made by the artisans at Scottish Opera’s Production Studios. Dutch baritone Thomas Oliemans, who gave a charismatic performance as Figaro in Barber, returns to the role; British baritone Roderick Williams sings Almaviva. Ulrike Mayer makes her debut with the Company, while a host of familiar faces completes the strong ensemble cast: Scottish soprano Kate Valentine, last seen in 2008’s Edinburgh International Festival co-production of Smetana’s The Two Widows; Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Nadine Livingston (La boheme, 2010); Inverness-born Harry Nicoll (Manon, 2009); Francesco Facini (The Elixir of Love, 2009); Martin Lamb (Five:15, 2010); Leah-Marian Jones (Falstaff, 2008); and Miranda Sinani (Five:15 Operas Made in Scotland, 2010). Music Director Francesco Corti conducts. The Marriage of Figaro is sung in Italian with English supertitles. (press release)

Opening Night: Fri 29 October, Theatre Royal Glasgow

CAST

Figaro: Thomas Oliemans

Susanna: Nadine Livingston

Count Almaviva: Roderick Williams

Countess Almaviva: Kate Valentine

Cherubino: Ulrike Mayer

Dr Bartolo: Francesco Facini Mark Jonathan

Don Basilio/Don Curzio: Harry Nicoll

Antonio: Martin Lamb

Marcellino: Leah-Marian Jones

Barbarina Miranda Sinani

TEAM PRODUCTION

Conductor: Francesco Corti

Conductor 11 & 13 Nov: James Grossmith

Director: Sir Thomas Allen

Designer: Simon Higlett

Lighting: Mark Jonathan

PERFORMANCE DATES

Theatre Royal Glasgow

Fri 29 Oct, Tue 30 Nov, Thu 2 Dec, Sat 4 Dec*+, 7.15pm

Sun 31 Oct, 4pm

Figaro Unwrapped, Wed 1 Dec, 6pm

Box Office: 0844 8717647

www.theatreroyalglasgow.com

Eden Court, Inverness

Thu 4 Nov, Sat 6 Nov*+, 7.15pm

Figaro Unwrapped, Wed 3 Nov, 6pm

Box Office 01463 234234

www.eden-court.co.uk

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Thu 11 Nov, Sat 13 Nov *+, 7.30pm

Figaro Unwrapped, Fri 12 Nov, 6pm

Box Office: 01224 641122

www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Fri 19 Nov, Tue 23 Nov+, Thu 25 Nov, Sat 27 Nov

Sun 21 Nov*, 4pm

Figaro Unwrapped, Thu 18 Nov, 6pm

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

www.eft.co.uk

Running time - approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes

* Audio Described Performance / Touch Tour

+ Pre Show Talk 6pm