A short synopsis for the people too lazy to click the link, the story takes place about five years after the events in The Barber of Seville, on the day that Figaro, former barber and currently valet for Count Almaviva, is about to marry his sweetie Susanna. Susanna is the personal maid to the Countess, Rosina, whom Figaro brought together with the Count in Seville. As times have changed, the Almaviva is now an unfaithful husband with Susanna as his next target, but also terribly jealous of any man who may have an eye for his Countess - particularly the pageboy Cherubino who has just hit puberty. Hijinks ensue as Figaro, Susanna, Rosina and his tenants attempt to thwart Almaviva's plans to debauch Susanna and send Cherubino to the army, while also returning him to the Countess' loving arms.
Watching the production unfold, I remembered what a funny story Figaro is, and I guess that's one of the drawbacks of listening to opera on CD. Watching the acting and translation with the music - soooo many lol moments along with the enjoyment of so many familiar arias! Richard Alexander and Tiffany Speight were terrific and equally matched as the quick-witted Figaro and Susanna running rings around Almaviva. Alexander was just the cheeky and slightly rotund Figaro I always picture in my mind! Leanne Kenneally was fantastic at portraying Rosina's sadness that the good times between her and Almaviva seem to be gone in the aria Dove sono? but also shows her backbone of steel for wanting to exert a bit of reveng on him. Joslyn Rechter had Cherubino's male walk and loose limbs down pat, but the real star of the show is Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Almaviva.
Cheating bastards aren't usually my thing but Tahu Rhodes plays him with such charm and charisma that you kind of feel like Barbarina who'd give in to the seduction when he promises you everything! From the moment he walks into Susanna's room barefoot with his shirt open and wearing a velvet robe, you see this is a guy who is not normally denied anything he wants. Act II is even better as he storms around Rosina's chamber using every wile he possesses to make her open the door to her dressing room where Cherubino is hiding, from seduction (pictured) to breaking it down with an axe. And upon finding Susanna in the closet, to be so shocked as to just let the axe drop! But he doesn't have it all his way with buffoonish moments such as in Act III his *Omigod, don't talk about this now!* reaction when Barbarina mentions his promise in public to coerce the Count into allowing Cherubino to stay, and when Susanna under Rosina's orders turns on the seduction to get Almaviva to meet her later in the garden...the way the 6'5 Tahu Rhodes mimicks the coquettish dance around the props, sheer hilarity!Figaro is probably one of the best operas you can be introduced to due to the hilarious storyline and familiar music. And it is familiar because seriously, the music from this opera has been played everywhere. As Ruilin said to me after the first act: "I wanna buy a subscription!" Yeah! (Now maybe OperaAustralia will put more productions on in Melbourne *grumble grumble*)
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