Here’s one wedding where you aren’t expected to bring a gift. This groom has been down the aisle so many times in the past 223 years that it’s safe to assume he doesn’t need tea towels or toasters.
Audience members, rather, have been the ones walking away with a treat — the sparkling melodies of “The Marriage of Figaro.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s music struck such a chord in its 1786 premiere that encores were demanded for five of the opera’s pieces.
But even if your only exposure to the famous “Figaro” melodies comes from cartoons and the occasional commercial, don’t sweat it. The Paramount, where Ash Lawn Opera’s production opens tonight, is air-conditioned, and, in keeping with company tradition, the singing’s in English. You should be able to follow the story — and if you can’t, you’re likely to be having too much fun to worry about it.
“It’s in English, which is really helpful for an opera like this,” conductor James Lowe said. “It’s a really complex plot. It’s got a lot of heart, too, so there are moments where the music is just aching.
“The score is just page after page of magic. There’s not a spare note.”
There’s precious little filler along the way because the music is advancing the plot, which pits an ingenious servant who’s excited about his upcoming wedding against his boss, a count with a roving eye and an overlooked wife.
And in Ash Lawn Opera’s first indoor season, savoring the lush melodies and charming combinations of characters in ensemble works will be a lot easier.
“You miss the outdoors. I used to conduct out there,” Lowe said of Ash Lawn-Highland, where the company’s previous seasons took place. “The tradeoff is so worth it. It’s more than a payoff, I think. People will be in air-conditioned seats, and they will be able to hear the music.
“That’s the biggest surprise — we haven’t heard a cow or a peacock yet.”
There’s another bright touch — courtly panels already hanging at each side of the Paramount stage that look as if they were intended to set the scene for the powdered-wig pageantry of the nobles Figaro serves.
“There are two murals that could be scenes from ‘Figaro,’ ’’ Lowe said. “The era is right."
But back to the music. Lowe and his orchestra of almost two dozen musicians have been making the most of their rehearsal time from the first downbeat in the Paramount’s pit.
“It’s really pretty much the greatest operatic score,” Lowe said. “From a musician’s standpoint, not having to worry about rain is great. I think the orchestra is better than it ever has been. There’s so much more we can do in terms of dynamics. We can be very loud, and we can be very soft.”
Getting a feel for the space from the first practice has helped the musicians bring out the most in the score, Lowe said.
“In fact, we did all the rehearsals from day one in the pit,” he said. “Simply having walls around you means people can hear each other.”
Lowe said that the improved sound isn’t the only advantage for Ash Lawn’s indoor audiences. The opera gets plenty of plot mileage out of mistaken identities and disguises, and the ability to plan a wider variety of lighting choices will make it easier for listeners to keep track of who’s whom once the merry misunderstandings crank up to full speed.
“The lighting really helps a lot, because people are dressed like other people — in the dark,” Lowe said.
The opening of “The Marriage of Figaro” means that two productions will be available indoors, as “Camelot” is running through Aug. 9. But if you’re hankering for the lush summer scenery of President James Monroe’s rolling back yard, mark your calendars for some festival events that’ll be back at Ash Lawn-Highland. Get the best of both worlds, and decide for yourself which you prefer.
The popular Music at Twilight series will present “Mozart and More” on July 24 and “Broadway Bound” on July 25, so pack a picnic and make an evening of it. Tickets are $20.
The Summer Saturdays series for children and families also will be in Mr. Monroe’s Neighborhood. Look for “Dinosaurs Forever” on July 25, “Figaro! Who?” on Aug. 1 and “The Velveteen Rabbit” on Aug. 8. Tickets are $5.
Plan your trips by scrolling through the schedules at at www.ashlawnopera.org. Get tickets at the Paramount’s box office, online at www.theparamount.net or at 979-1333.
Details
"The Marriage of Figaro"
Ash Lawn Opera
8 tonight; runs through Aug. 7
Lecture by Marita McClymonds at 7:15 tonight
www.theparamount.net
979-1333
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