Boston's Lyric Opera Closes 40th Season With THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, 4/28-5/7

Boston Lyric Opera's (BLO) production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's classic The Marriage of Figaro, opens April 28 for a five-performance run through May 7 at the John Hancock Hall at the Back Bay Events Center. Reuniting the artistic team that helmed BLO's acclaimed 2016 La Bohème (Rosetta Cucchi directing, BLO Artistic Advisor John Conklin designing, and David Angusconducting) the production recounts the antics and schemes of Count Almaviva as he attempts to upend Figaro's wedding day. Cucchi and Conklin took inspiration for this new production from the style and feel of the romantic Billy Wilder 1954 comedy "Sabrina" starring Audrey Hepburn; it takes place in an imagined glamorous villa located in a prototypical European city.

With a libretto based on Pierre Beaumarchais' play of the same name -- a sequel of sorts to Beaumarchais' other play The Barber of Seville, which was turned into an opera by Rossini -- The Marriage of Figarofollows the unhappily married Count Almaviva as he tries to prevent the marriage of Figaro to Susanna, whom the Count wants for himself. Troubled by her unfaithful husband's antics, Countess Almaviva hatches a scheme with Susanna to catch the Count in his duplicity. Confusion and hilarity abounds in the course of one day as identities are concealed and nefarious plots are upended.

An imaginative, minimalist set literally lays out the plans for the villa on the stage of John Hancock Hall, and each of the four acts - in the Count's garage, on a tennis court (in a nod to "Sabrina"), in the bedroom chamber, and at the inevitable garden wedding - play out as if on a game board.

Costume designer Gail Astrid Buckley infuses the characters with plenty of 1950s Hollywood glamour, evoking Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy-infused wardrobe from "Sabrina," Steve McQueen's indelible racing suits, Cary Grant's smoking jacket, and even James Dean's hipster style reimagined for the cross-gender role of the young male page, Cherubino, played by a woman.

"The Marriage of Figaro, aside from having some of the most beautiful music ever written, is about our basic human desires for justice, love and dignity," says Esther Nelson, BLO's Stanford Calderwood General & Artistic Director. "Women fight entrenched male privilege and ordinary citizens revolt against social injustices. It's funny, poignant and deeply moving. Even at its deepest moments of despair we have hope that love and reason will ultimately prevail at the end. I am thrilled to end our 40th Anniversary with this classic."

Evan Hughes, bass-baritone, makes his BLO debut as Figaro. Playing his betrothed Susanna is soprano Emily Birsan, acclaimed for her role in BLO's 2015 La Bohème. Baritone David Pershall and sopranoNicole Heaston play the Count and Countess Almaviva. Mezzo-soprano (and Mozart aficionado) Emily Fons plays Cherubino. Rounding out the cast are David Cushing as Bartolo, Michelle Trainor as Marcellina, Matthew DiBattista as Basilio, Simon Dyer as Antonio, Brad Raymond as Don Curzio, and Sara Womble as Barbarina. Felicia Gavilanes and Emma Sorenson play bridesmaids.

In addition to set design by Conklin and costumes by Buckley, lighting design is by DM Wood, wig and makeup design by Jason Allen, and English surtitles are designed by Allison Voth.

Boston Lyric Opera's production of The Marriage of Figaro runs Fri. April 28, Sun. April 30, Wed. May 3, Fri. May 5 and Sun. May 7 at the John Hancock Hall at the Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkeley Street, Boston, with the weeknight performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are $25-$175 and are available online at blo.org, by phone at 617.542.6772, and in-person at the Boston Lyric Opera administrative offices, located at 11 Avenue de Lafayette, 4th Floor, in Boston. The Box Office is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 4 p.m. Group and student tickets are available through BLO Audience Services at 617.542.6772 or boxoffice@blo.org.

Pre-performance talks are given one hour before each performance and are free to all ticket holders.

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