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Le nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata K. 492
(The Marriage of Figaro, or the Day of Madness)
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
An Opera buffa in four acts
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte after Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais’ play La folle journée, ou Le marriage of Figaro
First performance: Vienna; Burgtheater, May 1, 1786
June 25, July 2, 10 & 13, 2010, at 7:30pm
June 27 & July 18, 2010, at 2:00pm
The Marriage of Figaro has been called one of the greatest operas ever written, by scholars and audiences alike. From its famous overture to the brilliant finales, it combines the elegance and wonder of Mozart’s music with a very human comedy of wit and brilliance. It’s been just three years since The Barber of Seville came to its happy end, but in the second installment of the Beaumarchais trilogy, things have changed a great deal for Count Almaviva, Figaro and Rosina, now the Countess. One of opera’s greatest masterpieces tells a riotous tale of marriage, deception and mistaken identities but ends with the triumph of virtue, love and forgiveness.
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Macbeth
by Giuseppe Verdi
Opera in three acts and ten scenes
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave (with additional material by Andrea Maffei) after William Shakespeare’s play
First performance: Florence; Teatro della Pergola, March 14, 1847
June 26, July 6, 9, 14 & 17, 2010, at 7:30pm
July 4, 2010, at 2:00pm
A chilling tale of witches, prophecies, murder and madness is retold by one of Italian opera’s greatest composers. Lady Macbeth wants the throne of Scotland for her husband, so she persuades Macbeth to murder the true king thus making the witches’ prophecy come true. Once the deed is done, one of the greatest and most studied tragedies of the stage is set in motion. Verdi creates an opera that is deeply inspired by the Shakespeare he loved, setting the tale to music that matches its chilling power, but surging with a life all its own. The mists and brooding landscape of Scotland are seared with the passion and fire characteristic of Verdi’s earliest operas.
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Susannah
by Carlisle Floyd
A musical drama in two acts and ten scenes
Libretto by the composer after the Apocryphal book of the bible of the same name
First performance: Tallahassee, Florida; Florida State University,
February 24, 1955
First professional performance: New York; New York City Opera,
September 27, 1956
July 3, 7 & 16, 2010, at 7:30pm
July 11, 2010, at 2:00pm
The Biblical saga of Susannah and the Elders is reimagined in a powerful American setting by one of the 20th century’s most remarkable opera composers. Appalachian folk tunes, Protestant hymns and square dances woven together with beautiful vocal lyricism create a poignant and purely American musical drama. Set in the mountains of Tennessee, Susannah Polk is an innocent yet independent girl who is targeted as a sinner by the Elders of her church in the small mountain town of New Hope Valley. She finds herself maligned, persecuted and cast out by the community, led by the evangelist who is its spiritual leader. Susannah is one of America's most important and frequently performed contributions to the operatic repertory.
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