The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, ma 13 elo 2007, Alkaen (2007/2007), Ohjannut Kasper Holten, Musiikinjohto Michael Schønwandt, Theater an der Wien, Vienna, Austria

When Mozart brought the intrigue of the valet Figaro onto the stage of the Viennese court theater in 1786, critics loyal to the emperor conjured a scandal. How could one set Beaumarchais' socially critical piece to music? How could Joseph II give his approval for the performance when the political developments in France were just demonstrating where this kind of artistic propaganda was leading? But in the end all obstacles were overcome, as Leopold Mozart reported to his daughter Nannerl in 1786: “Today, on the 28th, your brother's opera, Le nozze di Figaro, is going to scena for the first time. It will be a lot if he succeeds, for I know that he has astonishingly strong cabals against him. Salieri with all his followers will make every effort to get heaven and earth moving again ... "