The Marriage of Figaro

The story

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment. Herman Prey's Figaro is admirably sung in a firm baritone and aptly characterized. So too, is his antagonist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the Count perpetually frustrated by the scheming wiles of Figaro and Susanna, here the perky Mirella Freni, who sings and acts like a dream. The Countess is creamy-voiced Kiri Te Kanawa, and the Cherubino, Maria Ewing, looks just like the horny, teenaged page she's supposed to be. The all-star leads are complemented by worthy supporting singers, the Vienna Philharmonic at the top of its form, and the experienced Mozartian, Karl Böhm conducting a stylishly fleet performance.

Cast

H Hermann PreyFigaro M Mirella FreniSusanna D Dietrich Fischer-DieskauIl Conte di Almaviva K Kiri Te KanawaLa Contessa di Almaviva M Maria EwingCherubino H Heather BeggMarcellina P Paolo MontarsoloBartolo J John van KesterenBasilio W Willy CaronDon Curzio H Hans KraemmerAntonio J Janet PerryBarbarina K Karl BöhmSelf - Conductor