It’s been five years since the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop production of The Marriage of Figaro first wooed me to a happy relationship with opera. When I realized Figaro was being staged again this year, I was excited to see if it would still tickle my funny bone and delight my ear. The answer is a slightly reserved “yes”. The orchestral accompaniment of the 2013 production truly brings Mozart’s music to life and adds layer upon layer of richness. The trade-off seems have been that the newer production is more visually static and a little less theatrically engaging. Still, I was wowed by the talent of the young cast of singers, including Kristi Bryson as a charming and sensible Susanna and Jeremy Hirsch as an impish Figaro. And as for sheer opera-induced bliss, the prize goes to Countess Almaviva’s solo about the pains of an unfaithful husband performed by Sofia Grella.
