The Marriage of Figaro

Normally concentrating on less familiar operas, Victorian Opera broke away with an innovative production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. A triangular portion of the stage protruded into the audience bringing them closer to the action. There were minimal scene changes, although these did take time on opening night.

Each year thousands of hopefuls chase an operatic career which few will achieve. Some are lucky enough to win a competition which will offer money, or the chance of overseas study. The German Australian Opera Grant offers one year’s employment at the prestigious Wiesbaden Opera Company in Germany. In 2007 Brett Carter took up a position there and has remained ever since.

On holidays during the European summer, he was an elegant Count with a lovely polished voice. Andrew Collis also has a lovely bass-baritone which was just right for Figaro. He worked well with the young Jacqueline Porter as Susanna.

Tiffany Speight as the Countess sang well, without the warmth in the voice I prefer in this role. Roxane Hislop was a strong Marcellina and bass-baritone David Woloszko a funny Dr Bartolo, though this role should be sung by a bass with more weight. Dimity Shepherd was a very good Cherubino.

The surtitles included a lot of colloquialisms which the audience enjoyed, but there were a few opening nightglitches. Richard Gill had the orchestra moving at a cracking pace and they supported the singers well.

I liked the dance in the third act and the direction where the Countess left the Count in disgust half way through, thus giving him the opportunity to read the note Susanna had handed him. The slow motion movement in the fourth act was effective.

However, I came away feeling they’d missed a crucial element of the opera. I didn’t get the impression that plans to trap the Count could have disastrous consequences if they had gone wrong. Susanna did not appear nervous when allowing the Count to seduce her and Figaro almost treated him as an equal.

It is traditional for the Count to paw Susanna when she faints in the first act, but having him do it to his wife when they were fighting seemed inappropriate.

However, there was some lovely singing and the audience were certainly entertained.

Graham Ford

Images: Roxane Hislop (Marcellina), David Woloszko (Dr Bartolo), Brett Carter (Count Almaviva), Andrew Collis (Figaro) & Jacqueline Porter (Susanna) and Brett Carter (Count Almaviva) & Jacqueline Porter (Susanna) in Victorian Opera's The Marriage of Figaro. Photographer: Jeff Busby.