Music and mischief take the stage for one night Saturday, Oct. 4 as Amarillo Opera performs Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”
The performance begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, for one night only at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at panhandletickets.com or by phone. The evening will run about three hours with intermissions.
Mozart’s masterpiece
Written in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, “The Marriage of Figaro” was adapted from a controversial French play by Pierre Beaumarchais. Its sharp social commentary — mocking aristocratic privilege while celebrating the wit of commoners — once faced censorship in Europe. Today it is celebrated for combining romance, farce and political edge in a single brilliant score.
“’Figaro’ has the best music Mozart ever wrote for drama and the best story ever put into an opera,” Stokes said. “It’s full of twists, surprises and incredible reveals, all within one day. You get jealousy, forgiveness, broken hearts, and ultimately grace.”
One frantic day in 18th-century Spain
The story unfolds over a single, chaotic day in the Almaviva household. Figaro, the Count’s valet, is preparing to marry Susanna, the Countess’s maid. Trouble erupts when Figaro learns that Count Almaviva intends to seduce Susanna before the wedding. Outraged, Figaro vows to outsmart his master, while Susanna proves an equal partner in the scheme.
Meanwhile, the neglected Countess joins forces with Susanna to teach her husband a lesson. They devise a nighttime plan of disguises and mistaken identities to expose the Count’s hypocrisy. As the moonlit garden scene unfolds, love notes go astray, doors slam and secrets spill until all truths — and hearts — are revealed. In the end, the Count is caught red-handed, begs forgiveness and receives it, bringing reconciliation and a final chorus of grace.
Behind the production
Stage director Cynthia Stokes has directed “Figaro” across the country, but Amarillo’s production required a sprint. She said the cast staged the entire opera in only four and a half days, calling the pace “both exhilarating and terrifying.”
“It was nuts,” she said with a laugh. “Everyone came off book — they knew the opera cold — so we could put people on their feet immediately. The first week was all about getting the bones in quickly. The second week is where we fine-tune and fix the little things, like a couch being in the wrong place or an exit that doesn’t make sense. The third week, which is where we are now, is lighting, orchestra and costumes. It’s a crazy process in a very short amount of time, but it’s thrilling to watch everything lock into place.”
Her approach with performers blends strategy and patience. “Opera singers are really singing actors,” Stokes explained, emphasizing that each performer must combine vocal skill with dramatic interpretation. “Everybody needs something different. Some days you say yes, some days you say no, and sometimes you just trust that it’s going to look like a mess for a while. Out of that mess comes something beautiful.”
Stokes said the atmosphere in Amarillo allows her to take creative risks. “Mary Jane Johnson is one of my dearest mentors, and when she calls, I listen,” Stokes said of the Amarillo Opera artistic director. “She has an incredible gift for casting — she finds these amazing young singers who are fearless and collaborative. I can come in with bold ideas, and everyone here is willing to try them.”
This production also reunites Stokes with conductor Anthony Blake Clark, a Texas Panhandle native making his “Figaro” debut. “Blake is about to have a meteoric rise as a conductor,” she said. “He has a brilliant musical mind, but he also listens. When we’re working a scene, he’ll stop and say, ‘Let’s breathe together and find the character.’ That partnership between stage and music is what makes opera magical.”
Though based in San Diego and head of the University of Arizona’s opera program, Stokes said Amarillo remains a favorite stop. “I grew up in New Mexico, so coming back to this part of the country feels like coming home,” she said. “You have one of the most beautiful theaters in the country. The acoustics are stunning, the design reflects the Plains, and as a kid from this region, it brings me such joy to see a space like this dedicated to the arts.”
A cast of colorful characters
The story’s comic complications are fueled by a memorable ensemble:
Figaro – Witty and resourceful, determined to protect Susanna and outmaneuver his aristocratic boss.
Susanna – Intelligent and quick-witted, the true heart of the opera who balances charm with strategy.
Count Almaviva – Once a romantic hero, now arrogant and manipulative but ultimately capable of remorse.
Countess Almaviva – Elegant and quietly suffering, she transforms hurt into dignified forgiveness.
Cherubino – A lovesick teenage page whose crushes and close calls add youthful chaos.
Marcellina – Initially an obstacle to the wedding, she is revealed as Figaro’s long-lost mother.
Dr. Bartolo – Her partner in plotting, and ultimately Figaro’s father, whose bluster hides a soft heart.
Antonio – The cantankerous gardener whose accidental discoveries nearly unravel the plan.
Barbarina – Antonio’s kind-hearted daughter, whose small tasks play pivotal roles.
Don Curzio – A nervous magistrate trying to maintain order in the legal tangle.
Don Basilio – The sly music teacher and resident gossip who keeps rumors circulating.
A welcoming first opera
For newcomers, Stokes promises clarity and fun. The performance is sung in Italian with English supertitles projected above the stage. “Even if you don’t know opera, you’ll follow the story,” she said. “It’s an inviting introduction to opera — the characters are fun, the music sparkles and the story carries you along.”
Stokes hopes audiences leave reminded of their shared humanity. “Figaro shows us that we all fall, we forgive, we get back up and we learn,” she said. “It’s a story of grace, and that feels rare and precious right now.”
Performance details
What: Amarillo Opera presents Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 (one night only)
Where: Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.
Tickets: panhandletickets.com or by phone
Duration: Approximately 3 hours including intermissions
More: The production is part of Amarillo Opera’s 2025-26 season, which includes Mariachi Los Camperos (Nov. 7), “American Portraits” (Feb. 14, 2026) and “Pagliacci” (April 11, 2026), according to the opera’s website.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Music and mischief take stage in Amarillo Opera’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
