Mozart’s Figaro returns to WRTI with a focus on class and costume

Listeners can hear the Academy of Vocal Arts performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro on Saturday, November 7, at 1 p.m. on WRTI. The broadcast offers access to the fall 2025 production, which centers on the composer’s collaboration with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.

The opera opened in 1786 with a run of nine performances. Today, it ranks among the most frequently staged works in the genre. Stage director Tara Faircloth attributes this longevity to Mozart’s focus on human frailty. She notes that the music explores how people misunderstand one another while seeking connection and community.

The plot derives from a play by Pierre Beaumarchais, which served as a sequel to The Barber of Seville. The Austrian Emperor banned the source material in Vienna, fearing it would spark conflict between social classes. To adapt the work for the opera stage, Mozart and Da Ponte shifted the blame for the characters' troubles away from the aristocracy and toward women. This change was largely a facade, as the underlying class story remained intact.

The production uses costume design to visualize these social tensions. The design features a brightly colored palette. Noble characters wear specific hues, while different ranks of servants wear others. When characters swap costumes, the audience observes how their treatment changes based on perceived status.

Singers Cumhur Görgün and Jasmine Rose, who portray Figaro and Susanna, discussed the show and its color choices. An abridged version of their conversation airs at intermission. The full recording is also available for listeners.

The cast includes Joshua Klein as Count Almaviva, Alexa Frankian as Countess Rosina Almaviva, and Katherine Dobbs as Cherubino. Raúl Morales Velazco plays Bartolo, and Maiya Williams takes the role of Marcellina. Other performers include Cole McIlquham as Basilio, Daniela Machado as Barbarina, Ryan Wornall as Antonio, and Sergio Mandujano as Curzio. Joseph Colaneri conducts the orchestra.

Listeners can tune in to WRTI at 1 p.m. on November 7. The broadcast is also available through the WRTI mobile app, smart speakers, and streaming at wrti.org.