Le Nozze Di Figaro - Glyndebourne Details

Not what we were expecting.

But simply delightful. The music is quite beautiful, the acting and singing exceptional and the settings simple and original. Because Glyndebourne is such an unusual venue, several scenes appeared very similar to those in a Midsummer Night's Dream and Albert Herring, very different operas in all other respects, but this was more than compensated by the quality of the marvellous accoustics.

Our only criticism was that the plot of the libretto was not really in keeping with the music, Mozart in a less sparkling, more emotional mode than I expected, which was more haunting than amusing and not as suitable for a comedy as Rossini's chuckling style in the sister libretto, the Barber of Seville. But this had much to do with the conductor, who appeared to take it all very seriously as high art, which it proved to be, rather than joyful fun, which was intended at any rate by the librettist.

We were actually waiting for the famous 'Figaro here, Figaro there,' aria from the less often staged 'Barber', before we realised it was a different opera altogether. 'Duh..'.

The plot revolves around the infidelity of men and the wiles of women, tricking and counter-tricking like a bedroom farce, but is very cleverly choreographed.

Rather a long film and somewhat bum-numbing, but soul fodder for all that.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A lack of humour

A bit disappointing. The music and singing were fine and Renee Fleming's singing of the countess's two arias was truly beautiful. I find the other review interesting in that it expressed surprise that this opera didn't seem to be a comedy when that is exactly what it is though also full of a lot of very beautiful and moving music. This for me was the disappointing part of this performance, particularly since it came from Glyndebourne who usually make a special point that the acting is good as well as the music. I found Figaro and Cherubino particularly disappointing but I have seen all the parts more entertainingly acted. I must confess that I have even seen an amateur performance that was more fun than this though of course the music and singing were not of the same standard. If you want the comedy as well as the music find another recording.