Le Nozze Di Figaro - Glyndebourne (DVD)

...DVD recording of Mozart’ opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (The marriage of Figaro, was recorded live in Zurich Opera House and subsequently released on 29th April 2002. The Opera is sung in Italian; subtitled in the DVD. The subtitles can be distracting and at times the repetitions making them slightly unnecessary. A copy of the DVD is available from Amazon for £26.95. There are no extras included on the DVD apart from a choice of languages for the subtitles.
...planned marriage between Figaro (Carlos Chausson – under baritone), a valet and Susanna (Isabel Rey - soprano), a maid. Both work for the Count Almaviva (Rodney Gilfry - baritone) at his country estate in Seville. The count has given up his traditional right to sleep with any bride on her wedding night. Susanna, however, is his favourite servant and he considers revoking his decision.

Susanna suspects his plans and conspires with ... more

Opera is fast becoming far more accessible with regular performances staged at many UK theatres and a wide selection of DVDs and CDs now available. Ticket prices to live performances are however often very costly which can be prohibitive and off-putting. The last time I attended an opera, which was earlier this year, the tickets cost me £34 each (and these weren’t the best seats). Whilst, I much prefer watching a live performance, the cost does limit the amount of productions I can attend.

DVDs provide an alternative opportunity to watch a performance recorded live at some the world’s best venues. The ambience won’t compare but it will enable viewing from the comfort of your home and you can move around freely.

This 2 disc DVD recording of Mozart’ opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (The marriage of Figaro, was recorded live in Zurich Opera House and subsequently released on 29th April 2002. The Opera is sung in Italian; subtitled in the DVD. The subtitles can be distracting and at times the repetitions making them slightly unnecessary. A copy of the DVD is available from Amazon for £26.95. There are no extras included on the DVD apart from a choice of languages for the subtitles.

The opera tells the story of the planned marriage between Figaro (Carlos Chausson – under baritone), a valet and Susanna (Isabel Rey - soprano), a maid. Both work for the Count Almaviva (Rodney Gilfry - baritone) at his country estate in Seville. The count has given up his traditional right to sleep with any bride on her wedding night. Susanna, however, is his favourite servant and he considers revoking his decision.

Susanna suspects his plans and conspires with her fiancé, the Countess (Eva Mei - soprano) and a young page, Cherubino (Liliana Nikiteanu – mezzo soprano) to avoid the Count’s attempts at seduction. Cherubino is supposed to dress up as a girl to trick the count. The Count, jealous of the countess’s attention towards him, sends him off to join the army. The countess and Susanna then plan to swap clothing. Countess (dressed as Susanna) arranges to meet the Count in the gardens. Figaro, who is not aware of the new plans, is appalled when he sees them in each other’s arms. The truth is revealed and every thing is ended happily.

The characters are played with understanding. Figaro and Susanna are delightfully witty and energetic. Gilfry, as the count steals the show, delightfully seductive and dark. Cherubino is youthful and niave. The Countess noble, neglected, yearning yet loving. They all sing with clarity and act with conviction. The ensembles at the end of each act are the highlight of the performance with each separate voice sounding distinct and brilliant and the action fast-moving and thrilling.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt's conducts the Zurich Opera House Orchestra with precision and attention to detail. The result is outstanding with defined contrasts and full of tension. The only criticism, I could make is that it does not always fully convey the brightness and playfulness expected by Mozart’s musical directions.

Jürgen Flimm directs the performance staying close to the original. The costumes are historically accurate with plenty of low cut dresses and absurd breeches. Set on revolving sets, the scenes of the farce are played to great comic effect particularly the scene of act two in which Susanna and the countess dress the page in a dress are disturbed by the count necessitating in the characters hiding in closets, behind screens and jumping through a window.

I do recommend the DVD. It does not provide the fullness and richness of live opera but it is a good alternative that can be watched time and again.
 

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