the mommy avenger

I’ve been an a journey of discovery this past year and I know I have much to learn still. Opera is a new realm for me and I am acquiring an appreciation for it. Last night, I was invited to come see Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, performed by the Utah Opera. This famous opera is known to be a favorite, a sequel per se to The Barber of Seville.

The opera  finds the boisterous barber, Figaro, ready to be married to his sweetheart, Susanna, as a scheming Count tries to break up the whole situation! Hilarious antics ensue—expect disguises, mistaken identities, and a lot of hiding in (and under) things—as this comedy plays out with music by one of the greatest composers of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

I, a novice to the world of opera, was especially excited to be somewhat familiar with the music, as I remembered so much of it from the movie Amadeus. I highly recommend reading up on the opera before attending, and there are so many resources available from Utah Opera on their website. You can delve into the opera as much as you would like. Being so new to this, I especially appreciate the resources. You can learn about the background of the show, the history of the production and gain a foundation of understanding before attending. An hour before the performance, there is even an audience pre Opera chat with Utah Opera Principal Coach Carol Anderson. After the performance, you can also participate in post Opera Q & A. There is also background provided in the program, if you were to arrive a tad early, you would be able to get an idea of the story. All of this, I think, is especially helpful to prepare for the performance.

Once it begins, you can still understand what is going on because while it is performed in Italian, there are English subtitles. At that point, you can sit back and be entertained. The Utah Opera does a phenomenal job producing exceptional quality productions and whether you are a novice or not, it is clear to see.

Our performance last night found the two main characters (Susanna and Figaro) suffering from an illness, unable to sing their parts themselves. What would seem to be the making of a disaster proved to be a resilient showcase of what happens when “opera and illness collide.” Last minute adjustments were made and singers Clara Hurtado Lee and Zachary Nelson were brought in to sing the soprano and baritone roles of Susanna and Figaro, with only hours to prepare. They settled to the side of the stage while original performers acted out the scenes. What could have been a rough performance turned out to be absolutely beautiful.

The audience was treated to a variety of talent and completely enthralled. The singing was fabulous, the acting extremely entertaining and the story quite hilarious. It was easy to follow and so enjoyable.

So, if you are like me and want to expand your horizons and try new things, or just know you already love the opera, I highly recommend a visit to the Utah Opera. Performances of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro continue this week at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City. You can learn more about this show and purchase your own tickets here. Be sure to check out the remaining 2023-2024 Utah Opera season while you are on their site.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}