Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (Pappano)

Introduction

A live performance of what is arguably Mozart's greatest opera, filmed over three nights at the Royal Opera House in February, 2006.

The importance of Figaro as a hard-hitting human drama with many issues still recognisable today and not just a play with great tunes is sometimes overlooked. It does, admittedly, contain music which stays with you for the rest of your life, should you be so inclined to let it, and which has been borrowed from its orginal source for a multitude of other projects ever since (even 'Don Giovanni' nicks a bit, and a nice touch here is a scene where Cherubino runs onstage singing an aria from Giovanni, redressing the balance a little).

It also contains characters who, mostly, speak and behave as real people would, and interact with each other in believable and often, highly emotional situations. The fact that everyone seems to be highly strung in one way or another just adds to the drama rather than turning things into a pantomime.



David McVicar obviously believes in the importance of the dramatic situations and wisely prevents himself from any unnecessary 'updating' as many directors do to in an attempt to make things more relevant to today's audiences. It's much nicer to be treated as a grown up from time to time.

Visual

The DVD video quality is excellent, with plenty of detail and clarity even in the darker scenes. The stage lighting, and especially the shadows cast across the faces of the performers if they dared to moved their heads even slightly was a little off-putting but nothing to really complain about.

Audio

Sound quality favours the stage, which isn't such as bad thing as when Mozart goes overboard in showing how clever he is in writing multiple vocal lines the clarity is astonishing.

The orchestral sound is somewhat muted (although never too indistinct) which means a lot of the rhythmic detail is lost. It also doesn't help that the playing is not as tight as it coud be, notably right at the start of the first scene where the triplets in the strings are quite messy.

Overall though, Pappano conducts with just the right amount of vigour and things never drag.

Extras

Somewhat disappointing for a relatively recent release, consisting of a c. 7 minute 'mini-documentary' which doesn't say anything of great depth. The details in the accompanying booklet are more forthcoming.

Overall

The shock of the opera's plot when it was first written, such as it was, has been lost as the years have gone by. It didn't really cause that many revolutions in itself, but definitely annoyed the establishment and helped create a new 'realism' in other works of its type which followed.

For some reason, McVicar has set his own version in the 1830s, making the 'Droit de Seigneur' sub-plot a little anachronistic, but apart from this, everything makes perfect sense.

The whole production smacks of 'Upstairs, Downstairs' with the household servants appearing at opportune moments throughout, and taking great pains to spy on their masters. The action starts with the overture, as we are introduced to Figaro and his colleagues messing about as much as they can. This probably wasn't absolutely necessary but gets us into the swing of things quite nicely.





It's hard to imsgine a better cast gathered together for this production.

Miah Persson (Susanna) is one of my favourite Mozart singers (last seen as Fiordiligi in 'Cosi..' - also reviewed here) and seems perfect for this role, producing the right blend of lover, coquette, and sheer bloody-minded, hard working servant...with a voice you really can't tire of.

Erwin Schrott is a larger than life Figaro, obviously relishing his opportunity to embarrass his employer, while being able to act the loving husband-to-be. He has a powerful presence on stage, and an equally powerful voice, but sometimes belts out the recits a little too much.

Gerald Finley (Count Almaviva) and Dorothea Röschmann (Countess) are great as the bickering master and mistress, but Finley's voice and acting are slightly more impressive. Röschmann doesn't take enough time to prepare for Dove Sono and often her phrasing suffers.

Rinat Shaham (Cherubino),another excellent actor and rather fine singer, creates a very funny and sympathetic teenage lad who cannot help but fall in lust with anything in a skirt.

The fact that we also have Philip Langridge in the cast as Don Basilio, shows that great importance is placed on the (relatively) smaller roles, and he certainly doesn't disappoint, still being one of the greatest British singers around.

There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to 'Figaro' on DVD, but this has to count as one of the best. Straightforward, well-acted, beautifully sung and no hint of a pretentious director putting an unfamiliar twist on things, this is highly recommended....despite the lack of extras!