The Marriage of Figaro
Mozart
27 April 2018
Channing Hall,
Surrey Street, Sheffield
Opera on Location thoroughly believe in the importance of education and on Friday 27th April 2018 the first of Opera on Location's educational workshops was held.
In line with AQA A Level examinations we ran a workshop followed by a semi staged public performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. The workshop was led by renowned musicologist and author Nigel Simeone who frequently delivers pre and post show talks at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and can often be heard on BBC Radio 4 as a commentator and expert musicologist for the programme ‘Tales from the Stave’. Praised for his engaging style and charismatic delivery, Nigel was the perfect choice to lead the afternoon.
The workshop was tailored to suit the needs of the AQA A Level set works and to further the students’ knowledge of the pieces they were to be asked about in their upcoming exams.
There was also an opportunity for students to ask questions to not only Nigel but also our professional cast of singers who provided live musical examples during the session. The roles explored in the workshop included Figaro, Susanna, The Count, Dr Bartolo, Cherubino, Marcelina and Basilio all accompanied by pianist Christopher Pulleyn.
Students and staff alike praised the workshop and many felt it had a huge impact on their understanding of the piece and were delighted to hear opera in such an intimate setting.
Later that same evening the students were invited to our semi stage production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro so they could begin to put things into context within the whole opera.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
The stories of Mozart’s prodigy are well known and his brilliance is recognised throughout the world. He began playing the keyboard at the age of three and started composing at five. He was a touring musician by six and before his 12th birthday had written two operas! Of his 22 operas, many of them are frequently performed today including Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte and The Magic Flute.
Cast and Creatives
