The Metropolitan Opera’s current season is set to delight audiences with two iconic Mozart operas, Die Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro, in fresh and entertaining productions that showcase the art of exceptional collaboration.
A Marvelous Met Mozart
The Metropolitan Opera’s current season is showcasing two of Mozart‘s most iconic operas, Die Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro, in a fresh and entertaining way. These productions demonstrate that the Met can deliver wonderfully entertaining ensemble operas without relying on marquee names.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy and one of the most influential composers in history.
Born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria, he began composing music at the age of five.
By his late teens, Mozart had already composed over 50 symphonies and operas.
He is best known for his operas 'The Magic Flute' and 'Don Giovanni,', as well as his symphonies No. 40 and 41.
Mozart's musical genius was recognized during his lifetime, but he struggled financially throughout his career.
Mozart‘s operas are unique because they demand charismatic singing actors working closely together with minimal diva/divo posturing. Unlike many works by Puccini, Verdi, or Wagner, Mozart‘s operas require talented singers who can work together seamlessly. The current revivals of Die Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro have been packed with enthusiastic, younger audiences enjoying the performances.
Die Zauberflöte: A German-Language Singspiel
This opera, Mozart‘s next-to-last work, juxtaposes sublime episodes of noble lovers overcoming serious obstacles with ribald comedy involving a lovelorn bird-catcher. The production, directed by Simon McBurney and conducted by Evan Rogister, features sound effects from a real-time Foley Artist and live projected drawings that fill the back of the mostly bare stage.
The cast, including Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night and Michael Sumuel as Figaro, delivered secure confident renditions of complexly demanding works. McBurney‘s celebrated production embraces all of the work’s many contradictions head-on in a wild contemporary ride. The orchestra, which is raised up from the pit and fully visible throughout, played with a lively sheen.
Le Nozze di Figaro: A Comedy of Manners
This opera, drawn from Beaumarchais‘s revolutionary play and sung in Italian, brings us a near-perfect comedy of manners. Richard Eyre‘s production, which was first seen two years ago, mostly ignores the work’s pathos and rumblings of class warfare in favor of a Downton Abbey-flavored farcical approach.
The cast, including Alexandra Shiner, Olivia Vote, and Tamara Mumford as the mellifluous Ladies, shone once again. Kathryn Lewek demonstrated why she’s been the world’s go-to Queen of the Night, imbuing her first aria with gut-wrenching pathos and her second with astonishing ferocity.
Lewek refers to a type of traditional clothing worn in the Batak region of North Sumatra, Indonesia.
The lewek is a long-sleeved shirt with intricate embroidery and patterns, often made from silk or cotton.
Historically, leweks were worn by men as a symbol of status and wealth.
Today, they are mostly reserved for special occasions such as weddings and traditional ceremonies.
The conductor, Joana Mallwitz, made her Met debut conducting a bustling Nozze, which elicited a richly transparent reading from her eagerly buoyant orchestra. The production continues through April 26, and the opera will be beamed around the world in HD on May 1.
Upcoming Performances
The latter half of the season promises to bring more exciting performances. Rising American soprano Jacquelyn Stucker will make her Met debut as the Countess in Nozze, while Rosa Feola will sing the role of Susanna, and Emily D’Angelo will join for more Nozze performances.
Stucker is a rare surname of German origin, primarily found in the United States.
The name likely originated from the Middle High German word 'stucken', meaning 'to pierce' or 'to stick.' In some cases, it may be an occupational surname for a butcher or someone who worked with sharp objects.
According to the 2010 US Census, the most common states with individuals bearing the Stucker surname are Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
- observer.com | Topflight Teamwork Makes for a Marvelous Met Mozart
