UGA Opera Theatre will complete its trifecta of Wolfgang A. Mozart’s three most famous operas created with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte in its production of Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) happening Feb. 23-25. This energetic period production juxtaposes side-splitting comedy with biting social commentary, all illuminated through Mozart’s score.
Performances will take place in the UGA Fine Arts Theatre Feb. 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. This production is presented with the UGA Opera Orchestra under the baton of international conductor Maestro Hilary Griffiths. Staging is energetically brought to life by guest director Dean Anthony, a faculty member at the Brevard Music Center.
Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) presents a 1700s version of the complications involving love, power and infidelity that modern society still struggles with today. Based on a famous French play by Beaumarchais, the opera relates the story of how the servants Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married, foiling the efforts of their philandering employer Count Almaviva.
The cast includes Isaiah Feken as the Count, Laura Anna Cotney as the Countess, Rachel Eve Holmes as Susanna, Robert Fridlender as Figaro, Rebecca Sacks as Cherubino, Jason Nichols as Basilio, Ashley Adams as Marcellina, Allen Michael Jones as Bartolo, Bree Nichols as the characters Barbarina and Susanna Cover, Harrison Stenson as Antonio and Chun-Ju Lai as Don Curzio.
The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. It is created with Frederick Burchinal, director of opera; Kathryn Wright, principal opera coach; and Oleg Bellini, rehearsal pianist. Tickets are $20, or $6 with a valid UGA Student ID. Purchase tickets online at pac.uga.edu or call 706-542-4400. Parking is available in the Hull Street parking deck. More information about the opera is at music.uga.edu or ugaopera.weebly.com/news.
