The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (CSO) kicks off its 2006-2007 AmSouth UnumProvident opera series with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro Nov. 2 and 4 at 8 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre. This beloved comic masterpiece will be performed under the musical direction of Maestro Bernhardt, CSO Music Director & Conductor, and Tomer Zvulun, Stage Director.
Mozart is perhaps one of the most enduring musical figures in history. So much so that the 250th anniversary of his birth was celebrated worldwide throughout 2006 including here in Chattanooga with the CSO’s “Mozart at 250.”
The Marriage of Figaro is “a prominent part of this celebration,” according to maestro Bernhardt. “Mozart’s unfailing sense of drama and pacing, and his complete knowledge of the human voice's possibilities, make his operas the culmination of his gifts.”
The comic opera, composed by Mozart in 1786, was based on the stage comedy Le Mariage de Figaro by Pierre Beaumarchais. It was the first of three celebrated collaborations between Mozart and his greatest librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, and is now commonly regarded as a cornerstone of the standard operatic repertoire. The Viennese emperor Joseph II viewed the project with trepidation, but allowed it to continue after Mozart pledged to remove any offensive scenes.
Figaro premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna, on May 1, 1786 to enormous popularity, though it was only let a run for nine performances. It was so popular in fact that the emperor is known to have made a law regarding the number of encores that could be sung, because the audience was demanding so many that the already lengthy four hour opera was commonly running nearly twice as long thanks to the number of song repetitions.
The creators of this operatic masterpiece, Mozart and da Ponte, both lived lives that could be considered even more dramatic than that which they created on stage. Da Ponte became an ordained priest at the age of 24. At this time he moved to Venice where he concentrated largely on drinking and gambling. Da Ponte was soon banished from Venice following an affair with a married woman, briefly living in a brothel and playing the violin in priest’s robes. He then moved to Vienna where he was named poet of Joseph II’s Italian opera company. Da Ponte eventually settled in New York in 1804. He became the first professor of Italian literature at Columbia University, and through his efforts the first New York opera house was built and the earliest American performances of Italian language opera took place.
As a part of the celebration of Mozart at 250, The Marriage of Figaro will give families the opportunity to experience the music of the CSO with no cost for children under 12. “Family Night” came about because “we believe that family time enjoying great music is invaluable,” said CSO executive director John Wehrle.
“Mozart's music speaks to all,” said CSO Concertmaster Don Zimmer. “Although many orchestras and other musical organizations are winding down their Mozart at 250 concert series, in reality the celebration of his glorious music will continue forever.”
The Cast
• Tomer Zvulun- Stage Director
• Matthew Burns- Figaro
• Emily Martin- Susanna
• Timothy LeFebvre- Count Almaviva
• Caroline Worra- Countess Almaviva
• Molly Fillmore-Cherubino
• Jeffrey Tucker- Bartolo
• Olivia Ward- Marcellina
• Matthew Surapine- Basilio/Curzio
• Brett Hyberger- Antonio
• Christine Hassevoort- Barbarina
Tickets start at $28. “The Marriage of Figaro” is a “Family Night at the CSO” performance. Children 12 and under are free. For tickets or information, contact the CSO Customer Service Center at (423) 267-8583, at 630 Chestnut St. or online at www.chattanoogasymphony.org. Subscription tickets are available.