Virginia Opera Brings Mozart’s Hilarious Opera 'The Marriage of Figaro' to Fairfax

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comic masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro, gains new life with Virginia Opera as the company performs the classic work at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax on Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m.

This delightful opera buffa serves as the fourth and final installment of Virginia Opera’s 2012-2013 season.

Opera novices and aficionados alike are sure to find themselves alternatively transfixed and amused by the beauty and humor of this cherished score.

The Marriage of Figaro was created following the success of Rossini’s first operatic installment of Pierre Beaumarchais’ Figaro trilogy, The Barber of Seville. Famed composer Mozart collaborated with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte to create the work; this creative union proved successful and went on to create Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte.

Since its premiere in Vienna in 1786, The Marriage of Figaro has become a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire and is one of the most performed operas in the world.

As the second installment of the trilogy, The Marriage of Figaro follows the beloved characters from The Barber of Seville on a single day of lunacy. The familiar characters are in comical turmoil once again as they seek love, revenge and forgiveness.

The clever Figaro, now major-domo for the lecherous Count Almaviva, is preparing to marry his beautiful fiancée, Susanna, Countess Almaviva’s maid. But before he can wed his love, he must outwit both his employer and his old nemesis, Doctor Bartolo, while avoiding the advances of the Countess’ former governess. Will Figaro and Susanna become man and wife? Or will Figaro fall for the traps set for him?

Directing this grand opera is company favorite Lillian Groag, who has an extensive career as a playwright, actor and director both in the United States and abroad. She has received numerous awards, including a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Performer and a grant from the Kennedy Center's Fund for New American Plays.

Steven Smith, in his company debut, will conduct the performance. Smith is the music director of the Richmond Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus and Cleveland Chamber Symphony. An award-winning composer, he was named Ohio Composer of the Year in 2008.

Virginia Opera’s delightful production features real-life husband and wife Matthew Burns and Anne-Carolyn Bird in the leading roles of betrothed lovebirds Figaro and Susanna. Virginia native Burns (Orphée, 2012) returns to Virginia Opera, while Bird will perform in her company debut.

Aaron St. Clair Nicholson (The Mikado, 2012) and Katherine Whyte appear as the adulterous Count and scheming Countess Almaviva. The cast also includes appearances by Karin Mushegain (Hansel and Gretel, 2011), Jeffrey Tucker (The Mikado, 2012) and Margaret Gawrysiak (Hansel and Gretel, 2011; A Streetcar Named Desire, 2013).

The Virginia Opera Orchestra is provided by the Richmond Symphony. The Marriage of Figaro will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performance on the Center’s Grand Tier III and is sponsored by the Friends of the Center for the Arts.

Bellissimo Ristorante in historic Fairfax will also offer Virginia Opera ticket holders a 15 percent discount (not including alcohol) on Friday and Sunday performance evenings starting at 5 p.m. Reservations by phone (703-293-2367) or e-mail (info@bellissimorestaurant.com) are required. Visit http://bellissimorestaurant.com/ for more details.

Tickets for Friday’s performance of Virginia Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro are $44, $72 and $86. Tickets for Sunday’s performance are $48, $80 and $98. Tickets to these performances can be purchased at the box office at George Mason University's Center for the Arts (open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or by calling 888-945-2468 or visiting cfa.gmu.edu.

George Mason University's Center for the Arts is located on Mason's Fairfax Campus, at the intersection of Braddock Road and Rt. 123. Free parking is available in Lot K and paid parking is available in the Mason Pond Parking Deck adjacent to the Concert Hall.

For more information about these performances or other events at George Mason University's Center for the Arts, please visit cfa.gmu.edu. Like the Center for the Arts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gmucfa and follow the Center for the Arts on Twitter at @GMU_CFA.

This blog post was written by Amanda Rodriguez, with assistance by Jill Graziano Laiacona.