The Moores Opera Center debuts their spring season Thursday with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.“
Based upon Pierre Beaumarchais’s sequel to “The Barber of Seville,” the story takes place in 18th century Spain during Figaro and Susanna’s wedding day, which escalates into the “day of madness” when Figaro’s boss begins to seek the affection of his employee’s bride-to-be.
Directed by David Ward and conducted by Brett Mitchell, the comic opera stars Eric Lindsay as Figaro with Amanda Sauceda and Kyla Know alternating as Susanna.
Producer of “Figaro” and director of the Moores Opera Center, Buck Ross describes the opera as a “charming, energetic comedy,” one that many critics believe to be “the most perfect opera ever written.”
“The Marriage of Figaro” will be the first of two operas that will be presented this week by Moores Opera Center. Its opening will be followed by the opening of “Moscow, Cheryomushki” Jan. 25.
“Putting on an opera is an enormous undertaking. Putting on two at once as we are doing is an exercise in insanity. People have been working on this since September,” Ross said.
The ambition of the Moores Opera Center has not gone unrecognized. The National Opera Association awarded them top honors for two of its productions just last year.
“The Moores Opera Center is one of the largest opera producing university programs in the nation,” Ross said.
“Our opera house is second to none. Come see what the fuss is about.”
The “Marriage of Figaro” opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with continued performances on Friday and Saturday.