REVIEW: Opera North’s The Marriage of Figaro at The Lowry

Opera North’s rendition of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro came to The Lowry earlier this month.

Directed by Jo Davies, the production tells the story of Figaro (Phillip Rhodes) and Susanna’s (Fflur Wyn)  eventful wedding day. Figaro’s master, Count Almaviva (Quirijn De Lang) has intentions to bed Susanna after the wedding. Susanna helps the Countess as she’s occupied with the apprentice, Cherubino, infatuation with her. Finally, Figaro has to find a way to erase a debt with Marcellina or else – marry her!

A pleasant mixture of recitative and arias, clearly the production was well cast. Fflur Wyn and Phillip Rhodes made sure there was no question as to Figaro and Susanna’s connection in duets, whilst even less prominent parts including Alexandra Oomens as Barbarina showed passion in complex solos.

Performed by a company of tremendous talent, the hilarious plotline had the audience in fits of laughter as the story unfolds. Feelings of confusion, heartbreak and misunderstanding are contrasted by joy and forgiveness in song.