National Opera Company’s 'The Marriage of Figaro' Opens at Seoul Arts Center on the 20th

The National Opera Company will perform Mozart's masterpiece The Marriage of Figaro as its first production of the year from the 20th to the 23rd at the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center.

The Marriage of Figaro depicts the commotion that takes place at the Count Almaviva's mansion near Seville, Spain, in the 18th century. Figaro is the clever servant of Count Almaviva. With Figaro's help, Count Almaviva married his beloved Rosina. However, he gradually grows tired of married life with Rosina and develops illicit feelings for Susanna, the maid who is about to marry Figaro. Upon learning this, Figaro tricks Count Almaviva and marries Susanna with everyone's blessing.

The Marriage of Figaro is an opera buffa containing criticism and mockery of the upper class. Because of this, its premiere in 1786 was halted in a dramatic incident. However, it was recognized for both its artistic merit and popularity, to the extent that the term "encore" is said to have been first used in connection with this work, and it has remained a beloved piece for a long time.

The original work of The Marriage of Figaro is the play of the same name, the second part of the "Figaro Trilogy" by French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais. The original play also caused a huge sensation; when it premiered at the Od?on Theatre in Paris, three people were crushed to death due to the overwhelming crowd. Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte adapted the play into an opera two years after its premiere. Mozart and Da Ponte began with The Marriage of Figaro and went on to create the "Da Ponte Trilogy," which includes Don Giovanni (1787) and Cosi fan tutte (1790).

Among the many arias in the work, the duet between Susanna and the Countess, "Sull'aria... Che soave zeffiretto," became even more famous after being featured in the film The Shawshank Redemption. In the movie, the scene where the inmates of Shawshank prison stop their work and smile happily while listening to this duet remains one of the film's iconic moments.

David Reiland, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, will conduct. Reiland is collaborating with the National Opera Company for the third time, following Cosi fan tutte in 2018 and The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny in 2019. The production is directed by French director Vincent Huguet. From 2021 to 2022, Huguet gained critical attention by discovering organic connections among Mozart's "Da Ponte Trilogy" works at the Berlin State Opera and structuring the story accordingly.

Stage and costume design are by Pierre Jobanovic, a French architect, interior designer, and stage designer. In 2023, Jobanovic and Huguet presented the stage for Rigoletto at the Basel Theatre in Switzerland, captivating audiences with a stage design that emphasized the beauty of sweeping curves. For this production, a revolving stage will be used to show the Countess's atelier and the Count's mansion from various angles, vividly highlighting the theme of "A Mad Day" unfolding over 24 hours through changes in sunlight over time. Additionally, Jobanovic will make his debut as a costume designer for this work, presenting 53 costumes that modernly interpret traditional Korean elements such as knots and jeogori, combined with the sensibilities of the 1920s and 1930s.

The role of Count Almaviva will be performed by baritones Yang Junmo, known for his strong performances in the National Opera Company's Macbeth and The Tales of Hoffmann, and Lee Donghwan, who appeared as Count Luna in the National Opera Company's Il Trovatore. Yang Junmo will portray Count Almaviva for the first time in his career.

The role of Countess Almaviva will be sung by soprano Hong Jooyoung, beloved for her rich expressiveness, and her student Choi Jieun, who has won first place at the Verdi International Competition and the Vi?as International Competition. The role of Susanna will be performed by soprano Lee Hyejung, praised by critics for her clear tone and transparent high notes, and soprano Son Narae, an active resident soloist at the Hamburg State Opera in Germany. The role of Figaro will be taken by bass-baritone Kim Byunggil, a soloist at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and bass Park Jaesung, who won the 2023 Operalia, known as the "Domingo Competition."