For more than 200 years, the character of Figaro has been one of opera's most theatrical creations, and from Tuesday (March 29) Welsh National Opera will celebrate the story of the wily character and his lust for life and a desire for matchmaking and mischief in a trilogy of operas in their spring season, Figaro Forever.
Operatic fans will be sated by Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
The world-premiere of Figaro Gets a Divorce, by Russian-born British composer Elena Langer completes the package, and each piece will be delivered in English.
The story begins with The Barber of Seville and its much-loved characters and music inspired by the comedy by Beaumarchais.
The Marriage of Figaro continues with the spirited characters in the story of Count Almaviva's household with a host of intrigues and romance all packed into just the one day – Figaro's wedding day!
Meantime, the premiere brings the story to a close for the characters, whose relationships are put under intense strain by political instability in 1930s Europe.
Figaro Gets a Divorce will feature a libretto by WNO's artistic director David Pountney.
“I had been intrigued by the idea of how the story might end and what the world of Figaro sounds like in the hands of a contemporary composer,” he said.
“As well as the everyday troubles, the rumblings of the revolution were getting closer in The Marriage of Figaro posing the question of how these characters would survive as their world breaks apart.”
Tickets start at £18, and showings are as follows:
The Barber of Seville (Tues & Fri) 7.15pm
The Marriage of Figaro (Wed & Sat) 7pm
Figaro Gets a Divorce (Thur) 7.15pm.
To book call 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
