The Ghosts of Versailles

The story

What happened to Figaro and his friends after the events told in Rossini’s and Mozart’s operas? One possible sequel is told in John Corigliano’s “grand opera buffa” The Ghosts of Versailles—an uproariously funny and deeply moving work inspired by Beaumarchais’s third Figaro play, La Mère Coupable, and commissioned by the Met to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This telecast captures its world premiere run, conducted by James Levine. Håkan Hagegård is Beaumarchais, Figaro’s creator, who is deeply in love with Marie Antoinette (Teresa Stratas in a heart-searing performance) and determined to rewrite history and save her from the guillotine. A young Renée Fleming, at the beginning of her international career, sings the unfaithful Rosina. Gino Quilico is the wily Figaro who tries to take matters in his own hands, and Marilyn Horne stops the show as the exotic entertainer Samira.

Cast

T Teresa StratasMarie Antoinette H Håkan HagegårdBeaumarchais G Gino QuilicoFigaro R Renée FlemingRosina M Marilyn HorneSamira G Graham ClarkBégearss J Judith ChristinSusanna P Peter KazarasCount Almaviva T Tracy DahlFlorestine N Neil RosensheinLéon S Stella ZambalisCherubino W Wilbur PauleyWilhelm

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J Jane ShaulisElegant Woman in a Hat R Richard DrewsThe Marquis J James CourtneyLouis XVI A Ara BerberianSuleyman Pasha D Dean BadolatoThe Pasha's Page P Philip CokorinosEnglish Ambassador M Midhat SerbagiEgyptian Violist B Betsy NordenGossip K Kitt Reuter-FossGossip W Wendy HoffmannGossip M MET Orchestra L Linda ThompsonLady