The Marriage of Figaro, A Day of Madness (1990)
Opera Buffa in Four Acts
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Text by Lorenzo da Ponte after the play La Jolie jourree ou Le mariage de Figaro by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
English translation by Andrew Porter, commissioner by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
The edition med is the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, edited by Ludwig Finscher, by arrangement with Foreign Music Distributors, agent; for Barenreiter-Verlag, publisher and copyright owner.
The Marriage of Figaro was first performed in Vienna on May 1, 1786.
Dates of Performance
May 31; June 2, 6, 8, 12, 17, 23 (matinée)
1990 Season
Peter Grimes   The Marriage of Figaro
The Daughter of the Regiment   The Devil and Kate
Photo Gallery
Cast
Paul Kreider
Figaro
Rebecca Abram
Susanna
Roger Havranek
Doctor Bartolo
Dana Krueger
Marcellina
Lorraine Hunt
Cherubino
Kurt Ollmann
Count Almaviva
Thomas Bogdan
Don Basilio
Brenda Harris
Rosina
Michael McMurray
Antonio
Joseph A. Fosselman
Don Curzio
Patti Yvonne Edwards
Barbarina
Guiping Deng
Peasant Girl
Mary Kruger
Peasant Girl
Creative Team
William McGlaughlin
Conductor
Stephen Wadsworth
Stage Director
Thomas Lynch
Set Designer
Catherine Zuber
Costume Designer
Chris Akerlind
Lighting Stage
Cary John Franklin
Chorus Master
Peggy Miles
Stage Manager
Molly Gevirtz
Assistant Stage Manager
Amy Hutchinson
Assistant Stage Manager
Tom Watson
Wig Master & Makeup
John Keene
Repetiteur
Synopsis
ACT ONE: A room at the Count’s castle
ACT TWO: The room of the Countess
ACT THREE: The great hall of the castle
ACT FOUR: The garden of the castle
Figaro wants to get married to Susanna today and spends the day fighting the Count’s efforts to prevent him. The Count wants to bed Susanna and spends the day trying to postpone her marriage to Figaro. The Countess spends the day plotting to get her husband’s love back – despite her strong attraction to Cherubino. Cherubino wants to make love to all women, particularly the Countess, and spends the day being discovered by the Count in a variety of compromising situations. Marcellina spends the day trying to force Figaro, whom she fancies, to honor an old debt agreement whereby he must pay her off or marry her. The lawyer Bartolo is happy to help Marcellina pursue Figaro because he’d like to entrap the man who once foiled his own marriage to the Countess. In the afternoon Marcellina and Bartolo discover that Figaro is their son and spend the early evening getting married to each other. Basilio, always fascinated by any whiff of scandal, spends the day always fascinated. Antonio is concerned about his garden, when it is sullied by a fleeing man, and about his daughter Barbarina, who loves Cherubino but also enjoys the favors of the Count. Curzio serves as the Count’s legal counsel. Susanna spends the day juggling the insults, advances, orders, confidences, and mistakes of almost everyone.
The special matinee presentation of THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO for St. Louis area senior citizens was made possible by a major grant from The Southwestern Bell Foundation.
Sets and stage properties have been underwritten by a deeply appreciated gift from an anonymous donor.
The soloists have been generously underwritten by a gift from Rudolph W Driscoll.
The services of the Saint Louis Symphony have been funded by a much appreciated gift from Bryant Group, Inc.
The conductor’s services are sponsored by The Edward Chase Garvey Memorial Foundation.
The costumes have been underwritten with a generous gift from Mrs. Homer V. Howes.
Explore the 2025 Festival Season
Season tickets on sale now! Save up to 15% off and snag exclusive subscriber benefits.
