The Marriage of Figaro

Mozarts Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment Herman Preys Figaro is admirably sung in a firm baritone and aptly characterized So too is his antagonist Dietrich FischerDieskau as the Count perpetually frustrated by the scheming wiles of Figaro and Susanna here the perky Mirella Freni who sings and acts like a dream The Countess is creamyvoiced Kiri Te Kanawa and the Cherubino Maria Ewing looks just like the horny teenaged page shes supposed to be The allstar leads are complemented by worthy supporting singers the Vienna Philharmonic at the top of its form and the experienced Mozartian Karl Böhm conducting a stylishly fleet performance