The Marriage of Figaro

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

Hermann Prey Figaro Mirella Freni Susanna Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Il Conte di Almaviva Kiri Te Kanawa La Contessa di Almaviva Maria Ewing Cherubino Heather Begg Marcellina Paolo Montarsolo Bartolo John van Kesteren Basilio Willy Caron Don Curzio Hans Kraemmer Antonio Janet Perry Barbarina Karl Böhm Self - Conductor

Metadata from the source database.