Mid Wales Opera return to Bangor this spring with a brand-new production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in Theatr Bryn Terfel, Pontio on Saturday, 14 March at 7.30pm.
The popular company’s latest production brings together a cast of opera’s international stars with talented newcomers making their professional debut. Itsees the return of award-winning Russian soprano Galina Averina, who performed the role of Pamina in MWO’s 2017 The Magic Flute as Susanna, alongside British baritones Harry Thatcher as Figaro and Benjamin Bevan as Count Almaviva with Canadian-born soprano Jana Holesworth as the Countess.
As a company committed to supporting young artists, 50% of Mid Wales Opera’s cast is under 30 or less than four years out of college, and their Figaro tour includes postgraduate students from Dennis O’Neill’s renowned Wales International Academy of Voice.
Among the talented newcomers to professional opera is Olivia Gomez (Cherubino), a WIAV graduate, who told us: “I’m playing a trouser role, which is always an interesting kind of role to play. Cherubino is the cheeky lovable boy that all the woman spoil and all the men distrust.”
MWO’s Music Director Jonathan Lyness explained that the company selected The Marriage of Figaro for their first partnership with WIAV because the piece is perfect for young voices, and their production will be a fresh new take on Mozart’s timeless classic.
Jonathan explained: “If someone said to me ‘I’d like to see just one opera in my entire lifetime – which should it be?’ I’d probably dither for around 5 seconds and then say “Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro”. It’s true – other operas may be more romantic, or funnier, or longer, or shorter; have bigger orchestras, and gutsier heroes; have more death and destruction or else a healthier dose of good old-fashioned opera histrionics.
But what marks out The Marriage of Figaro is the way it depicts human beings for what they really are – their strengths and frailties, their beliefs and vulnerabilities, their confusion, their jealousy and their comedy. For anyone who’s ever thought “what is it that makes us human”, The Marriage of Figaro delivers universal truths clearly, brilliantly and magically way beyond any other opera. There isn’t a note from start to finish that shouldn’t be there, nor any note missing that should be there. It was so ahead of its time in 1786 that it continues today to be absolutely ‘on the money’ and leaves us all staring in disbelief at the stage thinking ‘that’s me – what I’m seeing and hearing right this minute – that’s me!'”
The Marriage of Figaro is MWO’s third tour in partnership with North Wales chamber orchestra Ensemble Cymru, performing Jonathan Lyness’ own reduced orchestration. It will be sung in English.
Mid Wales Opera
The Marriage of Figaro
Theatr Bryn Terfel, Pontio, Bangor
Saturday 14 March 7.30pm
Tickets: £21/£18 over 60s/£10 students and under 18s
Book online at pontio.co.uk or by phone on 01248 38 28 28 or in person at the Box Office.
