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You are here: Home / Events / The Marriage of Figaro 2020 – ENO – Review

The Marriage of Figaro 2020 – ENO – Review

March 15, 2020 by Fiona Maclean Leave a Comment

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Last Updated on September 28, 2021

The Marriage of Figaro 2020, English National Opera – London Coliseum.

If you’ve seen Amadeus, there are parts of the Marriage of Figaro that will be strikingly familiar.  As Salieri describes the Countess forgiving her husband, he recognises that Mozart’s music manages somehow to convey the depth of human emotions in a way that makes him a genius. With glorious music and fast-moving, complex plot, The Marriage of Figaro is an opera that can make you laugh as much as make you cry.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Ensemble © Marc Brenner-5268

Making the story truly accessible for today’s audience is a challenge which Joe Hill-Gibbins has ably met in his new production for English National Opera.  A theatre director by background, this production of The Marriage of Figaro for 2020 is staged in conjunction with Oper Wuppertal and is his first main stage production for English National Opera.  Without the constraints of ‘how an opera should be done’ Hill-Gibbins takes the plot and uses the staging to make everything come to life for a contemporary audience.  There’s a fine balance between losing the original sense of the Opera and losing a new Opera audience.  This production works brilliantly in that sense, injecting just the right amount of modernity and with an English language libretto that had us all laughing, smiling and crying at the right times.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Božidar Smiljanić, © Marc Brenner-195

The Marriage of Figaro is a complex tale of love. Figaro is preparing to marry Susanna but the nuptials are interrupted by a series of trysts.  Figaro’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of Marcellina, a former lover who has Dr Bartolo, a lawyer trying to force Figaro to marry her.  Meanwhile, Count Almaviva is pursuing Susanna, hoping to impose the droit de seigneur and sleep with Susanna before she marries.  The Count’s wife is desolate that she has lost his affection.  So, Figaro and Susanna plot and try to arrange for Cherubino the page to disguise himself as Susanna and trap the Count.  Marcellina’s pursuit of Figaro comes to nothing because she spots a birthmark on his arm and realises that he’s actually her son from a one night stand with Bartolo – at which point she and Bartolo decide to marry.  That leaves just the Count to deal with…he’s trapped by a series of disguises and eventually forced to beg forgiveness from the Countess.  They all end up with the right partner and the curtain falls after a whirlwind of mistaken identities.  

Dartington Pomegranate and Apple Mocktail

The new production uses simple devices and an ingenious staging to make everything fall into place like clockwork.  A white wall with four doors is put to great use during the overture – a real insight into what is to come.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Johnathan McCullough, © Marc Brenner-2404

Figaro was played ably by ENO Harewood Artist Božidar Smiljanić making his role debut.  Great characterisation, a little more power would have perfected his mellifluous rendition of the role.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Louise Alder, © Marc Brenner-36

His wife to be, Susanna, was played by Louise Alder – a beautiful lyric soprano who really came into her own in Part II.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Louise Alder, © Marc Brenner-2586

Elizabeth Watts as the Countess sang with passion and power.  The Countess has two particularly beautiful arias, Porgi Amor (O love grant some relief) and Dove Sono (where are those cherished moments).  The first had a few strange moments and Watt’s version seemed to be angry rather than lamenting her husband’s infidelity.  I’ve cried through both these arias (for the right reasons) in the past and despite the most exquisite voice, the emotion simply didn’t work for me last night. 

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Louise Alder, Johnathan McCullough, © Marc Brenner-1140

Count Almaviva played by Johnathan McCullough was jealous, lascivious and yet sensitive.  Excellent acting and singing – Crudel! perchè finora (Cruel woman why do you make me wait) with Susanna was particularly well sung.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Rowan Pierce, Hanna Hipp, © Marc Brenner-2309

And, Cherubino, played by Hanna Hipp was endearingly cheeky, loveable and naughty.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Susan Bickley, © Marc Brenner-362

Marcellina (Susan Bickley) and Dr Bartolo (Andrew Shore) were well matched while Colin Judson as Don Basilio had the audience in fits of laughter with his cockney spiv characterisation.  Barbarina was played beautifully as a goth-wildchild by ENO Harewood Artist Rowan Pierce and L’ho perduta, me meschina  (I have lost it, poor me) was a highlight for me.

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Rowan Pierce, © Marc Brenner-2448

A strong chorus and for the most part tidy orchestra conducted by Kevin John Edusei complemented a strong cast.  

This is a staging of a great opera that really entertains.  I’d be happy to take a newcomer to opera to this Marriage of Figaro and suspect I’d come away with a convert.  And, it’s a production that for me stands out and will be remembered (in the right sort of way!)

ENO The Marriage of Figaro 2020, Johnathan McCullough, Hanna Hipp, Colin Judson, Louise Alder, © Marc Brenner-788

The Marriage of Figaro is a co-production with Oper Wuppertal

Evening performances on 14 19 21 25 31 March and 02 09 14 16 18 April 2020
Running Time 3hrs 15mins
 
English National Opera,
London Coliseum,
St Martin’s Lane,
London WC2N 4ES.
 
Also showing at the London Coliseum is the ENO production of Madame Butterfly
 
Looking for somewhere to eat pre or post-theatre?  Do check our Soho Dining Guide
 
 

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Ed Baines at Randall & Aubin Soho

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Ember Yard - Berwick Street

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Darjeeling Express - a Supper Club comes Good

Asma Khan's Darjeeling Express is the child of an immensely popular supper club. The restaurant serves excellent home-cooked style food produced from their own kitchen by a team of female chefs.

Chotto Matte, Soho

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Orient London - A Chinese Restaurant Reinvented

There's a wealth of excellent Chinese restaurants in Soho. Orient London serves classic Mandarin Chinese dishes in a stylish space. They can cater for all size of groups and offer an excellent menu with a few particularly stunning dishes.

Corazón Mexican Bar and Restaurant

An independent Mexican and Southern Californian restaurant in the heart of Soho with a quirky menu including dishes like mole and fries together with tacos, tostadas and plenty of tequila,

Mele e Pere

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Temakinho - A Brazilan and Japanese fusion in Soho

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The Blind Pig

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The Duck and Rice Soho

Alan Yau's classy Chinese pub offers draught Pilsner Urquell and a wide range of Chinese food in a cosy, elegant setting. This is less about authenticity and more about a great place to meet up with friends. The food is pretty good too.

 

Filed Under: Events, Opera Tagged With: ENO, London theatre, London West End, opera

About Fiona Maclean

London based freelance writer and marketing consultant. I edit London-Unattached.com and write for a number of other publications. With a music degree and a background in marketing across many sectors, my passions include all types of music, food, restaurants, wine and travel

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