THERE is always a little family drama on a wedding day, bride’s panicking, flustered families, but The Marriage of Figaro’s day of madness takes the audience through a bigger battle to get to the alter.
Presented by the Welsh National Opera, each member of the cast brings their own sense of poignancy to the role, exuberating passion and power in their voices which left most of the audience stunned.
A special mention must be given to Elizabeth Watts for her role of Suzanna, the household maid and bride-to-be. Once the show got going her voice was breathtaking and she brought a sense of delight and mischievous comedy to the production.
When Suzanna, the Count’s favourite servant, is about to marry his valet Figaro she realises she is in danger of being seduced by her master.
To avoid this, she plots with Figaro, played by David Soar, the Countess and the young page Cherubino to show his true colours.
Caught in a whirlwind of misunderstandings, mistakes and momentary flukes, the soon to be husband and wife make a fantastic duo on stage and break through the barriers of the Count’s lust.
And while the props were rather bland and basic, the voices and phenomenal orchestra, conducted by Stephen Wood, brought emotion and colour to the stage.
The Welsh National Opera will be at the Bristol Hippodrome until tomorrow, with La Triviata tonight at 7.15pm and The Marriage of Figaro tomorrow at 7pm. Tickets, priced £7.50-39.50, are available from the box office on 0844 8713012.