

Le nozze di Figaro
January 1, 1975
3h 1m
IT
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment. Herman Prey's Figaro is admirably sung in a firm baritone and aptly characterized. So too, is his antagonist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the Count perpetually frustrated by the scheming wiles of Figaro and Susanna, here the perky Mirella Freni, who sings and acts like a dream. The Countess is creamy-voiced Kiri Te Kanawa, and the Cherubino, Maria Ewing, looks just like the horny, teenaged page she's supposed to be. The all-star leads are complemented by worthy supporting singers, the Vienna Philharmonic at the top of its form, and the experienced Mozartian, Karl Böhm conducting a stylishly fleet performance.

Hermann Prey
Figaro

Mirella Freni
Susanna

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Il Conte di Almaviva


Lorenzo da Ponte, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, Jean-Louis Martinoty
6

Kiri Te Kanawa
La Contessa di Almaviva

Maria Ewing
Cherubino

Heather Begg
Marcellina

Paolo Montarsolo
Bartolo

John van Kesteren
Basilio

Willy Caron
Don Curzio

Hans Kraemmer
Antonio

Deutsche Grammophon
DE
Unitel Classics
N/A

Universal Pictures
US