UNL Opera presents “The Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Performances are Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. in Kimball Recital Hall.
Figaro, the Count’s valet, is to be married today to Susanna, maidservant to the Countess. But there’s one little problem. The Count has designs on Susanna, and he is prepared to use all the power of his position to prevent the wedding from taking place. The stage is set for a battle of wits between servant and master, between husbands and wives, in a whirlwind of mistaken identities, captivating intrigue, and hysterical plot twists, all concluding in a miraculous devotion to the power of human forgiveness and love.
The opera will be directed by Richard H. Larson Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of Opera William Shomos. Professor and Director of Orchestras Tyler White will conduct the orchestra. UNL’s production will feature a stylish 1920s setting.
“While Figaro is relevant to all times, there are some interesting parallels between the post-World War I era and the opera's late Enlightenment origins,” he said. “In the United States, there was an optimism in the 1920's: the ‘war to end all wars’ was over, and the possibilities of wealth from commercial enterprise seemed limitless. With that optimism, many Americans hoped for a more equitable future, particularly between the sexes, where all would flourish. Mozart's women in this opera are all smarter, wittier and more perceptive than any of their male counterparts. They burn with intelligence and a spirit of independence, akin to their progeny of the 1920s.”
Shomos is again collaborating with the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film on the production.
“The art deco-age setting of the Count’s estate is conceptualized and designed by J.D. Madsen, professor and head of design/technology,” Shomos said. “Stylish costumes are designed by MFA in theatre arts candidate Camille Lerner. And the evocative lighting is created by MFA in theatre arts candidate Francisco Hermosillo, III, with properties and painting by Carson School alumna Jill Hibbard. I’m really indebted to the generous spirit of my friends over in the Carson School.”
Glenn Korff School of Music graduate student Rylee Worstell, who plays Cherubino in the opera, said she loves this show because it’s a wonderful introduction to opera as a whole.
“Mozart’s music is exquisite, his characters are lovable and witty, and the entire show is thrilling and engaging to watch,” she said. “I hope the audience feels the same.”
She describes Cherubino as a “little firecracker.”
“He is an awkward teenage boy who is just discovering the joy and magic of women,” Worstell said. “His intense desire to flirt with pretty much anyone who will give him attention (but mostly the Countess) gets him into a lot of trouble throughout the opera. I am having a blast playing this part. This is really one of the pinnacle trouser roles for mezzo-sopranos, so it has been a dream come true to be able to bring my own interpretation to the role and really make it my own.”
Worstell covered the role of Cherubino this summer at the Vienna Summer Music Festival.
“It was a great experience to be able to get a taste of the show before actually performing it,” she said. “I feel like I have a deeper relationship with the characters and the story after being able to study it so intensely and watch other wonderful young artists bring their different interpretations to the role.”
Worstell is looking forward to seeing the show come to life on stage.
“I love Bill’s vision for the opera, and I can’t wait to add in all of the costumes and the set to really bring all of our scenes to life,” she said.
Joshua Pitt, a master of music graduate student in vocal performance, plays Figaro.
“Figaro is one of the highest level workers that the Count has hired,” he said. “He and the Count were once good friends, however, while the Count has gone off to be successful in life, Figaro never went on to become much and has found himself working for the Count. Although Figaro isn’t the smartest person in the room, he is very quick on his feet and can talk his way almost out of every situation.”
Sarah Wibben, a master of music graduate student in vocal performance, plays Susanna.
“Susanna is a very strong female character who is smart and cunning. She is also very caring and compassionate when she needs to be,” she said. “It has been a joy to learn this role. I have never played a female character who is this strong and smart before. I am so thankful for the role of Susanna.”
It is Wibben’s first opera role.
“I have never been in an opera or seen an opera, so I am very excited to be involved in something so amazing and beautiful,” Wibben said. “I am looking forward to performing with an orchestra and my fellow castmates.”
Samuel Kennedy, an undergraduate music major in voice, plays The Count.
“The Count is the head of a big movie business who is a deeply jealous, insecure man that plays it off with power,” Kennedy said. “It feels like I’m stepping into a new world as the count, taking control of every situation I can grasp while holding onto confusion.”
Kennedy said the opera is a classic.
“You see humanity at its best and worst, and you get to laugh at it all,” he said. “Come watch the beautiful show these amazing students can perform.”
“Marriage of Figaro” contains many of the most famous tunes in opera, including Figaro’s “Here’s an end to your life as a rover” and Cherubino’s serenade “Tell me what love is.”
“It has been said that Beethoven’s music lifts us upward toward the heavens, but Mozart’s is the music of the heavens bestowed down upon us. Mozart’s music reveals so much more about the thoughts, emotions, intentions and very souls of the characters than any words can ever do. It really is a miracle of a work,” Shomos said.
Wibben said Mozart’s music is very challenging.
“But the reward from learning and mastering it is greater. There are some beautiful songs in this opera,” she said. “One thing I’m looking forward to performing is my aria in Act IV. This is a song I get to do all by myself on stage, and I’m very excited for it.”
Pitt likes the flow of the music in the opera.
“I love that in opera, Mozart has written this music in such a way that one doesn’t have to think about trying to sing what he wrote, it just simply flows from the lips,” he said. “Also, I love in the scenes where there are multiple people singing, each character has their specific moment where they dominate the stage and the music, which I find stunning.”
Wibben hopes audiences will attend the opera.
“We have put so much hard work and time into this, so we would love if everyone could come,” she said. “The more people, the better.”
Pitt said, “Throughout this opera, you will find many moments where your mouth will drop from the sheer beauty of Mozart’s music.”
Tickets are $20 adults and $10 for seniors/students. Tickets are available at https://go.unl.edu/gksomtickets or call (800) 504-4849.
The opera will be sung in Italian with projected supertitles.