Published on Jun 3, 2016

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: August 3-7, 2016

Venue: Drama Theatre of NCPA

Prices: 180, 300, 420, 500, 580, 680

Features: Le Nozze di Figaro is one of the most famous operas created by Mozart during the summit of his composing life. From August 3rd-7th, NCPA's production of Le Nozze di Figaro will stage in Drama theatre of NCPA in Beijing.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

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 years.

Le Nozze di Figaro premiered at Vienna Burg Theater on May 1st 1786, 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 high 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 was premiered on August 15th 2013. The director Mr.Jose Luis Castro, who comes from Seville where the story happens and thoroughly understands the local history and culture, enriches the opera by adding some original elements of Seville city . 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.

SYNOSIS

Figaro, a servant of the Count Almaviva and Susanna, a maid of the Countess Rosina are to get married. When Figaro is happily preparing for their wedding, Susanna tells him that the Count has an evil intent in giving them the new wedding room; it seems he has been making advances toward her and plans on exercising his 'droit du seigneur', the purported feudal right of a lord to bed a servant girl on her wedding night before her husband can sleep with her. The Count had the right abolished when he married Rosina, but he now wants to reinstate it. A light breaks in upon Figaro after he knows this, and they plan to expose his scheming. Marcellina, the old housekeeper has all the way been longing to marry Figaro since Figaro once promised to marry her if he should default on a loan she had made to him, and she intends to enforce that promise. This idea is proposed by Dr. Bartolo who is seeking revenge against Figaro for thwarting his plans to marry Rosina himself ten years ago. Cherubino, a young beau in the residence of the Count, flirts with all the women he meets, describing his emerging infatuation with them all day long; Basilio, the slimy music teacher, gossips anywhere and anytime; besides, there are also a muddle-headed judge, a drunken gardener, and of course the Countess Rosina who is always alone at night. All kinds of roles appear one after another, and the match between the noble and the mass begins. At last, the lower class who is cleverer and braver triumph and manage to embarrass the Count in the presence of all.

Tickets for NCPA's Production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro are Available now!