September 11, 2004: Nozze di Figaro in Oslo

2004-09-11 Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), DNO (Oslo)

Count Almaviva = Ole Jörgen Kristiansen
Figaro = Magne Fremmerlid
Countess Almaviva = Ragnhild Heiland Sörensen
Susanna = Kari Postma
Cherubino = Hege Höisaeter
Marcellina = Torill Eriksen
Dr. Bartolo = Anders Vangen
Don Basilio = Kjell Magnus Sandve
Don Curzio = Svein Erik Sagbråten
Barbarina = Sabine Gross

Eivind Aadland, conductor




LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Opera in 3 acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte

Season premiere: 11/9
Days of performance: 14/9, 18/9, 22/9, 28/9
Duration: app. 3h 30 mins
Sung in Norwegian

Conductor: Eivind Aadland
Direction: Willy Decker
Set design: Achim Freyer
Costumes: Claudia Doderer
Choir: Steffen Kammler


Count Almaviva - Ole Jörgen Kristiansen
Figaro - Magne Fremmerlid (role debut)
Countess Almaviva - Ragnhild Heiland Sörensen
Susanna - Kari Postma (role debut)
Cherubino - Hege Höisaeter
Marcellina - Torill Eriksen (role debut)
Dr. Bartolo - Anders Vangen (role debut)
Don Basilio - Kjell Magnus Sandve
Don Curzio - Svein Erik Sagbråten
Barbarina - Sabine Gross

The Norwegian National Opera`s Choir and Orchestra

The season of the Norwegian Opera (DNO) started with a classical treat of Mozart's opera Le Nozze di Figaro in Norwegian called Figaros Bryllup. Sung in Norwegian in the wonderful translation of Jens Chr. Ek.

This version had premier on April 28, 1986. And it was also televised. Then it was Knut Skram as Almaviva, Frøydis Klausberger as Contessa, Terje Stensvold as Figaro, and Solveig Kringlebotn (Kringelborn is her artistic name outside Norway) as Susanna.

Ole Jørgen Kristiansen who sang Rigoletto in DNO that was televised was even more wonderful in this opera. Dedicated and convincing. Not a villain, only a man who sincerely believe that he has the first right to all the women in the county. The Contessa here was more of a weakling with little of the grandezza of Frøydis Klausberger. She was no match for Susanna, here wonderfully portrayed by the relatively newcomer Kari Postma. Vocally Postma was in great shape and also acting the role of Susanna most convincingly. Magne Fremmerlid as Figaro is just another example of the deep voices also taking on the more baritonal edge. When one adjusted to this big-voice, big man as Figaro, one cannot be more convinced that he is Figaro. One wondered when he will sing Almaviva. Looking in role list, it said he was singing Furst Gremin in Murmansk, wow that would have been something.

In the smaller roles, Cherubino Hege Høisæter, utterly convincing. Sings her arias wonderfully and not only singing them but acting too, wonderful.
Anders Vangen as Dr. Bartolo and Torill Eriksen as Marcellina, what a treat to have such great singers/actors in this role. Anders Vangen is a relatively newcomer and Torill Eriksen is for some time now been the mezzo in Norwegian opera-life, or she has at least been that in my book. She sang wonderful and I loved the life she brought into the role of Marcellina.

Kjell Magnus Sandve as Don Basilio. It is not a great role in this opera. Sandve who is /has been the tenor-hope of Norway. To my regret I did not find it memorable. When Tor Fagerland sang this role in 1986/87 is was memorable. But no doubt, this is a first for Kjell Magnus Sandve, he will, I am sure, be more memorable in the next performances.

Sabine Gross as Barbarina was also nice. Don Curzio was energetic sung by Svein Erik Sagbråten, something I had not expected. But suddenly I had to look in the role list, Don Curzio.

OD Travel + Photos