Review: Canadian Opera Company’s “The Marriage of Figaro” Enthrals With Iconic Score and Plenty of Intrigue

By: Curtis Sindrey –
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Gordon Bintner as the Count and Andrea Carroll as Susanna in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of The Marriage of Figaro, 2023. (Photo: Michael Cooper)

Getting married can be stressful. Figuring out the venue. Choosing the flowers. Finalizing the guest list. It can all be a bit much. Now imagine a count is trying to romance your fiancé on the eve of your wedding and you have the Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) new production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” 

Anchored by brilliant performances by Luca Pisaroni (Figaro), and Andrea Carroll (Susanna), “The Marriage of Figaro” is a whirlwind of romance, and mayhem as Count Almaviva (Gordon Bintner) goes out of his way to seduce Susanna. 

Throughout the engaging four act production, you’re taken on a journey of true love, revenge, jealousy, and forgiveness as Figaro and Susana attempt to organize their life together with the Count stifling them at even turn. In return, the couple scheme up a plan to teach the Count a lesson about true love as Susanna makes plans to meet up with the Count, but instead they will bamboozle him by sending Cherubino (Emily Fons) dressed as a girl instead. Instantly feeling sus about the situation he finds himself in a state of collective confusion as Cherubino makes an escape through a window while Susanna makes an exit from a locked room, surprising the Count and resulting in the Countess instantly revealing Susanna and Figaro’s scheme. 

Afterwards, the Count hears a rumour that Figaro has an outstanding debt and is obliged to marry another woman by the name of Marcellina (Megan Latham) to pay off the debt and suddenly the Count feels like he has the upper hand. Unfortunately for him, he overhears the revelation that Figaro’s money troubles will soon be a thing of the past as Susanna has secured funds from the Countess to pay off Figaro’s debt. 

Finally free to live their dream live together, Susanna pens a letter meant for the Count and discreetly slips it to him. Figaro gathers intel with the gardener’s daughter Barbarina (Mireille Asselin), who’s job it is to return the brooch that Susanna pinned to the Count’s letter, and upon learning of this, Figaro jumps to conclusions and assumes that Susanna is cheating on him and declares that Susanna will endure a public humiliation.

Committed to the bit, Susanna and the Countess enter the garden dressed as each other all the while the Count confesses that he has a thing for Susanna and Figaro approaches the Countess to reveal the tryst. But one thing leads to another and eventually both women are revealed to be the other person and everyone returns to the celebration that is Susanna and Figaro’s wedding without incident. 

The production is filled with so many disguises and intrigue hat you can’t take your eyes off of the stage for even a second. The story is inspiring in such a way that it tackles the strong theme of class where working class heroes triumph over the ruling aristocracy. It’s a theme that radiates even today where there is a distinct fracturing in society and in particular between the middle class and what has become known as the one percent. 

Of the score, The Marriage of Figaro features some of the most iconic classical works ever created. From the memorable overture that has been featured in numerous films like The King’s Speech, Willy Wonka, Wedding Crashers, Runaway Bride, among others, to “Voi che sapete”, “Cinque, Dieci, Venti”, and “Canzonetta Sull’aria”, The Marriage of Figaro features music that you may have heard hundreds of times without even realizing it.

Overall, this is a production that has to be seen to be believed. From the beautifully iconic score, to the powerhouse performances, The Marriage of Figaro is not to be missed! 

The Marriage of Figaro runs at the Four Seasons Centre until Feb. 18th. Buy tickets here.