Wanda L. Bass School of Music students and faculty are preparing to open their first opera of the year, The Marriage of Figaro.
The show is a comedic opera composed by Mozart and based on the play of the same name.
The opera continues the plot of The Barber of Seville. “Figaro,” the servant, and his fiancée, “Susanna,” plot to expose “Count Almaviva” for the his attempted infidelity with Susanna.
The production is set in the Georgian era, the historical period between the 18th and early 19th century.
This production is unique because the costumes and wigs are in modern colors such as pink, said Cady Lewis, opera performance graduate, who is playing Susanna.
“Most productions of Figaro now aren’t going true Georgian, truly in the elaborate fashion. It’s going to be a very beautiful production,” she said.
Andrew Maguire, music theater sophomore and member of the chorus, said the show’s themes are still relatable to a modern audience.
“They’re definitely bigger and more exaggerated for comedy’s sake in the opera, but I think everyone can relate to the feelings of love and jealousy,” he said.
Jealousy, forgiveness, love, and betrayal are some recurring themes in the opera.
Austin Martin, vocal performance senior, is playing the titular role, Figaro. He said the opera can teach people a lesson about love.
“I think this opera can relate to the fact that the excitement of new love, the ‘honeymoon phase,’ goes away, but that doesn’t mean the love behind that relationship has died. And, in the end, we find that it can still be very strong,” he said.
Cast members will perform the show in Italian, and screens on either side of the stage will show English supertitles.
Lewis said students not familiar with opera would enjoy this show.
“It’s a really fun opera, and I think Professor Miller is doing a really wonderful job of making it enjoyable and relatable for people who don’t necessarily go to the opera all the time,” she said. “She’s really highlighting the humor and the relationships of characters and making them real people.”
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 17-18 and 3 p.m. Nov. 19 in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.
For tickets, call the ticket office at 405-208-5227.
Contributing: Photo Editor Elina Moon
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