Show artwork for The Marriage of Figaro

The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro

Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Conducted by James Conlon

February 426, 2023

New Production

At the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

The wedding starts at noon. The uprising starts now.

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something… threatening to throw Figaro’s wedding plans into disarray. Count Almaviva's wandering eye has landed on his wife's maid Susanna, who's about to marry his own manservant Figaro. Racing against the clock, Figaro quickly concocts a plan to outwit his master. Will the wily duo outwit the Count in time to save the day?

Mozart's greatest comedy sparkles with disguises, wit, trickery and humanity, all under the masterful baton of Music Director James Conlon. We're taking the magic even further with an enchanting new production directed by acclaimed filmmaker James Gray, with costumes designed by celebrated fashion designer Christian Lacroix. (Yes, that's a shameless name drop.)

A brilliant cast of company favorites brings the leading couples to life: Craig Colclough and Janai Brugger as the ever-resourceful Figaro and Susanna, with Lucas Meachem and Ana María Martínez as the Count and Countess. Rihab Chaieb makes her company debut as Cherubino, the lovable scamp who always shows up in the middle of all the schemes—at the absolutely worst time. 

Tickets are almost sold out! Limited seats available for Feb. 26. Check back daily for returns or call the Box Office at 213.972.8001, Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

Thursday, February 23rd Happy Hour Pre-Show Event Has Been Cancelled.
Please note that due to rain, the pre-performance event with live music from KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole and Happy Hour on the plaza has regrettably been cancelled.

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One hour before each performance begins, join Music Director James Conlon for a pre-show talk about The Marriage of Figaro in Stern Grand Hall, on the second floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Admission is complimentary with your ticket.

"This all-new Marriage of Figaro is as distinguished as one could hope to see anywhere – admirably sung, delightful to look at, executed with dedication and in detail, natural and unaffected in its flow"

Classical Voice

Listed to the famous overture from The Marriage of Figaro below:

Cast

Figaro
Craig Colclough
Susanna
Janai Brugger
Countess
Ana María Martínez
Count
Lucas Meachem
Cherubino
Rihab Chaieb
Doctor Bartolo
Kristinn Sigmundsson
Marcellina
Marie McLaughlin
Don Basilio
Rodell Aure Rosel
Don Curzio
Anthony León
Barbarina
Deepa Johnny
Antonio
Alan Williams

Creative Team

Conductor
James Conlon
Director
James Gray
Scenery
Santo Loquasto
Costumes
Christian Lacroix
Lighting
York Kennedy
Chorus Director
Jeremy Frank
Choreographer
Kitty McNamee

Read the synopsis

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Synopsis

Act I
Figaro and Susanna, servants to the Count and Countess Almaviva, are making preparations on the morning of their wedding. When Susanna learns that the Count has given them the bedroom adjacent to his, she protests. She fears that the Count will use this proximity to exercise his right as a feudal lord to initiate the new bride to the ways of lovemaking, an intention he has already communicated to Susanna via her music teacher, Don Basilio. The Count’s designs anger Figaro, and when Susanna leaves, he promises a revenge that will preserve Susanna’s virtue.

Marcellina and her former employer Doctor Bartolo arrive with a plan to prevent Figaro’s marriage. Marcellina wants to marry Figaro herself and plans to do so by enforcing the terms of an unresolved contract for a loan she made to Figaro years earlier. Susanna returns and shares a contentious exchange with her rival.

Marcellina leaves and Cherubino arrives. The young page has been banished from the castle after the Count found him in a compromising position with Barbarina, the gardener’s daughter. The page is pleading with Susanna to intervene on his behalf when the Count pays a surprise visit. While Cherubino hides, Susanna refuses the Count’s propositions. When they hear Don Basilio approaching, the Count also hides until he overhears Basilio telling Susanna that Cherubino is suspected of flirting with the Countess. In the midst of his tirade about Cherubino’s indiscretions, the Count inadvertently uncovers the page from his hiding place. The confusion is interrupted by the arrival of Figaro. He and some villagers stage a tribute to the “fair and just” Count. The Count responds to the morning’s events by delaying the wedding until that evening and by sending the pageboy away to fill a position in his regiment.

Act II
Susanna is relaying the morning’s events to the Countess when Figaro enters to explain his plan, a diversion that Figaro asserts will ensure that his wedding proceeds as planned. He has sent an anonymous letter to the Count warning that the Countess is planning a tryst with a lover. Additionally, Susanna is to agree to the Count’s proposition for an illicit encounter, but Figaro has arranged for Cherubino to be disguised as a girl and sent in Susanna’s stead. Figaro retrieves Cherubino, and Susanna and the Countess dress him for the charade.

They are surprised by a knock on the door from the Count. Cherubino hides, locking himself in the closet. The jealous Count, angered by the anonymous letter, threatens to break into the closet, but when he and a reluctant Countess leave momentarily to obtain the necessary tools, Susanna takes Cherubino’s place in the closet. The page escapes, jumping out of the window. The Count and Countess return, and Susanna emerges from the closet. The Count begs forgiveness but defends his suspicions with the anonymous letter. The women admit the letter was fabricated by Figaro.

Figaro enters and denies knowing anything about the letter. Then Antonio, the gardener arrives, outraged that someone has jumped from the window into his flowers. As Susanna and the Countess discredit Antonio for being a drunkard, Figaro claims that it was he himself who jumped. With the Count’s suspicions renewed and confusion mounting, Marcellina arrives along with her cohorts and makes her claim for Figaro to either repay his debt to her or marry her.

Intermission

Act III
Susanna and the Countess have created a new plan in which Susanna is to promise to meet the Count, but instead the Countess will go in disguise and reveal the Count’s infidelities. Susanna arranges the supposed rendezvous, but her efforts are nearly ruined when the Count overhears an exchange between her and Figaro.

Don Curzio, the judge, oversees the trial between Marcellina and Figaro. Figaro claims that he cannot marry her because he requires his parents’ permission, and being an orphan, that is not possible. Figaro’s story of being kidnapped as an infant sounds familiar to Marcellina, and a birthmark on Figaro’s arm confirms that he is Marcellina’s long-lost son, the result of her affair with Doctor Bartolo. The proud parents embrace their son and their future daughter-in-law, and a double wedding is planned.

Meanwhile, Susanna and the Countess write a letter to the Count confirming the tryst that evening. They seal the letter with a pin. Barbarina and the village girls enter to bring flowers to the Countess. The Count and Antonio interrupt to reveal Cherubino dressed as a girl hiding amongst the crowd. Barbarina intercedes and convinces the Count to forgive Cherubino. Having found the page at last, the Count uses the opportunity to try to force Figaro into admitting what really happened in the Countess’s bedroom earlier in the day. The villagers begin the wedding procession. Before completing the ceremony, Susanna slips the Count the note sealed with the pin.

Act IV
Figaro and Marcellina happen upon Barbarina in the garden searching for the pin she was meant to return to Susanna as confirmation of the tryst. Barbarina naively reveals her mission, and an enraged Figaro swears revenge for what he believes is his bride’s unfaithfulness. Figaro engages Bartolo and Basilio as witnesses and hides himself in order to catch Susanna with the Count. Marcellina returns with the Countess and Susanna, warning them that Figaro is hiding nearby. Marcellina hides, and Susanna and the Countess exchange clothes. Susanna hides, and the Countess, dressed as Susanna, awaits the Count’s arrival.

Instead, Cherubino comes. Finding the supposed Susanna, he propositions her until the Count interrupts. Cherubino hides. The Count makes advances towards “Susanna” until Figaro intercedes. The Count flees and the Countess hides. Susanna, still pretending to be the Countess, steps forward, and Figaro recognizes his wife’s voice. The plot becomes apparent to him, but he plays along for a moment, until Susanna reveals her true identity, and both are reconciled.

Figaro and Susanna (still dressed as the Countess) stage a love scene for the Count’s benefit. The jealous Count calls for help, and one by one, everyone is extracted from hiding. The Count points to the woman he believes has betrayed him, but the real Countess steps forward, removing her disguise and unveiling the entire charade. The Count, overcome with guilt, is forgiven by the Countess. All couples are happily restored, and go off to enjoy the wedding festivities.

Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

Running time: approximately three hours and 45 minutes, including one intermission
Audio Description will be available for the Sunday, February 19, performance. 

Click here to read Music Director James Conlon's essay on The Marriage of Figaro.

New co-production of LA Opera with Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Opéra National de Lorraine, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and Opéra de Lausanne

Production made possible by generous support from
GRoW @ Annenberg
The Carol and Warner Henry Production Fund for Mozart Operas
Nanette and Keith Leonard
Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation
Ariane and Lionel Sauvage
and the
Emanuel Treitel Senior Citizen Fund

With special appreciation to
Gregory and Régina Annenberg Weingarten

Ana María Martínez’s appearance made possible by generous support from
The Eva and Marc Stern Principal Artists Fund

Rihab Chaieb’s appearance is generously underwritten by a gift from
The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award

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 A Classical KUSC Partner Show                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Artwork for The Marriage of Figaro
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2022/23 Season