The Marriage of Figaro - Longborough

Wednesday 24th June 2009

Jenny Miller's fizzing new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro is a supreme success. Demanding outstanding vocal abilities, acting skills and comic timing requires stamina, hard work and talent which these young singers possessed in no small measure. With a plot that twists and turns the story resembles a cross between a Whitehall farce and a Shakespearean comedy. Characters swap identities, lay love traps and eventually foil the Count's feudal privilege to seduce Susanna before her marriage to Figaro.Cleverly choreographed tableaux from supporting cast became imaginative scenery or furniture. In addition innovative set design consisting of four abstract wooden shapes proved to be flexible and movable whilst the simple abstract trees in the final garden scene were similarly so.Susanna, Martene Grimson and Marcellina, Susan Moore sparkled with mockery in their duet Via reste servita. Susan's vibrant personality and warm-toned strong voice vied with Martene's energetic and bubbly stage presence.Nicholas Merryweather's Figaro put the buffa into opera buffa with his gingery wig and facial gestures.His excellent bass voice was very controlled and only occasionally did we hear its full projection.Suffering from throat problems Kris Belligh bravely sang his role as the formidable but confused and seductive Count Almaviva.Helene Hebrard as the pubescent page Cherubino irritates, amuses and enrages the other protagonists but charmingly sings his penned verse Voi che sapete to the Countess.Shining throughout, Stephanie Corley as the Countess captivated the audience with her dignity and rich spinto soprano. A beautifully expressive Porgi, Amor in Act 2 and Dove sono in Act 3 were sung exquisitely.Perfectly balanced ensemble singing pervaded the production which was conducted with perception and understanding by Gianluca Marciano.Fireworks showered a cascade of stars as finally Figaro claimed Susanna as his bride and the auditorium erupted into loud, sustained applause for this animated production.

Jill Bacon