Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro – Dudamel and LA Phil Production 5/20/13
May 20, 2013
I went to “Don Giovanni”, the first of Mozart-De Ponte trilogy, last year, and went to see the dress rehearsal of “The Marriage of Figaro”, the second of trilogy, last Wednesday. This trilogy production by Dudamel/LA Phil have been set in Disney Hall, and inviting different cast and staff for each time. The last of the trilogy will be “Cosi fan Tutti”. First of all, the costume by Azzedine Alaia in Figaro is just amazingly beautiful. And some of players in the orchestra are wearing red dresses designed by Alaia, and the orchestra look so differently than usual. The color gives the stage energy. This time, the orchestra is set in front of the stage (they were behind the stage in “Don Giovanni” set), and it is wonderful to see the orchestra is blending with the staging.
I can say that Figaro is one of the greatest opera buffa ever written. We know most of arias in this opera by heart, right?? Great tunes, very funny and clever story, fascinating characters…. All of singers are so great in their characters, especially the couple of Count and Countess Almaviva, sung by Christopher Maltman and Dorothea Roschmann. An important role, Cherubino, is sung by Rachel Frenkel, and she did a fantastic job being a boy. Figaro, Edwin Crossley-Mercer, who first appeared on the stage naked in his upper-body, is fantastic, a special mention is to see his muscles’ motion while he sings.
Dudamel/LA Phil was just beautiful, perfect Mozart’s sound. I was very impressed by Robert Morrison’s continuo harpsichord playing. First I did not know who was playing, and I learned who it was. His improvisation around recitative is so stylish, sophisticated, fun, and witty. At last, it is very interesting to see the different stages in each production of this trilogy in Disney Hall. The staging of “Don Giovanni” was designed by Frank Gehry who designed Disney Hall. Is Mozart truly genius?? Yes! If you are not convinced yet, please come to see this wonderful production.