Nozze di Figaro - ROH 1987 - Signori, di fuori son gia i suonatori

Johannes Schaaf's production of NOZZE DI FIGARO premiered at Covent Garden in 1987
Figaro - Claudio Desderi
Countess - Carol Vaness
Susanna - Marie McLaughlin
Count - Thomas Allen
Antonio - Federico Davia
conductor - Bernard Haitink

[@ANNEAish]

Smashing cast and looking production.

[@miwdiva]

Have you noticed the explosive chemistry between Thomas Allen and Carol Vaness, as scene partners? I love how they get it on - compared to the Salzburg version with the Russian singer, Allen is definitely more "chaste" with her, hehe. :)

[@annealdridge5424]

Complete cast marvellous too!

[@miwdiva]

You can see it in the documentary that was made about Allen (you can see it on KZbin). :)

[@BasVoets-fj9bx]

I was in the house where mozart wrote figaro.together with my mother.blutgasse in vienna.

[@miwdiva]

@drtmuir I agree with you, although (regarding the MET production) it was a real treat for me to see my two favorites together, Ruggero Raimondi AND Thomas Allen- explosive!!! You're right to call the ROH production a party- you get the sense that they don't just play a role, they're having fun doing it as well. Something I didn't sense with the MET production, for some reason.

[@athosbuenoteixeira7098]

Thomas Allen, sensacional

[@interpreterr]

Perhaps the director tried to reflect the "spirt of the times" to some extent. After all, this was a period of great social upheaval with servants increasingly standing up to their masters. So making Figaro less charming and more aggressive does make sense in such a context.

[@Snowss]

hahaha fantastic! Allen is trying to hide his obvious..ejm...happiness, hehehe

[@miwdiva]

It's true they would have been hot together. :)

[@miwdiva]

@drtmuir Allen is such a great actor, I love how (in real life) he is a kind-hearted, almost shy person, but he knows how to come across as a douchebag as Count Almaviva- especially in the MET version, where he looks imperious, aristocratic and even mean. I find the ROH version more fun, warmer though. Mind you, Kathy Battle was sublime, but she has no humor, no lightness compared to Marie McLaughlin or even Mirella Freni.

[@miwdiva]

Also, maybe because she's the opposite of a typical English type, that's why he had such fun... ;)

[@ANNEAish]

Very clever production. What an Antonio with voice of Boris and a real character with all the nuance I saw all over!

[@MsUa125]

Beautiful people.

[@miwdiva]

My answer doesn't want to come appear for some reason (damn you KZbin), but just type "Thomas Allen, In touch with life" (the name of the documentary) and you will see it. Enjoy!

[@miwdiva]

I was thinking of that, it,s funny because Carol Vaness is the total opposite of his wife, physically (voluptuous brunette to a tall, blond, very English lady). ;)

[@interpreterr]

Yes... Everything was going so well, why did this damn servant have to appear now! :D

[@ANNEAish]

Federico's wonderful Antonio

[@ANNEAish]

Classic! And great to see Federico's classic Antonio (one of)

[@annealdridge5424]

The best Antonio ever!!