The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/6/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Ryan Sayers The Bulgarian State Opera performed 'Le Nozze Di Figaro' at Jorgensen on Monday night.

Last night, the Jorgensen Center For The Performing Arts hosted the Bulgarian State Opera's performance of the opera that Napoleon Bonaparte called a "part of the mechanism that lead to the French Revolution" last night - "Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)." Written by Lorenzo de Ponte and first conducted by Mozart in 1786, this "opera buffa," or "comedy opera" presents four witty and entertaining acts as the Spanish servant Figaro and his bride-to-be, Susanna, attempt to marry each other. Yet, despite the couple's best love-based intentions, they become entangled in aristocrats' whims, mistaken identities and multiple love triangles, causing some bawdy and outrageous scenes. These scenes caused this controversial opera to be banned in both Paris and Vienna after its release, but the good-natured humor got many laughs out of Jorgensen's audience.

In addition to the comedy, the audience enjoyed a night of wonderful music.

"Mozart uses text and music to make drama," said Dr. Bruce Bellingham, the speaker of the Concert Talk before the opera.

The human issues of love, betrayal, and forgiveness were all colorfully evoked through the beautiful orchestral arrangement, conducted last night by Krassimira Kostova, a graduate of Saint Petersburg State Conservatoire. To accompany the emotional musical score, the soprano, tenor, baritone, and bass operatic voices commanded the stage.

"The singing was very good … I'm glad Jorgensen has such good cultural events," said Lauren Woody, the Jorgensen House Manager and UConn Alumni. Thanks to the UConn School of Fine Arts, the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and Dr. David G. Woods, the UConn community was able to enjoy a night of great music and culture.

"I thought it was a delightful way to spend an evening. I love how Mozart wove the themes of domestic tension, the tenuous condition of the dreams or those in the lower social strata, and the ever-resonating theme of love conquering all on the wings of Mozart's effervescent sonorities," said Taylor Warinsky, a 2nd-semester music education major.

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