What a surprise, a conventional Holland Park production!
Just back from The Marriage of Figaro at Opera Holland Park - the normal 1000 seat auditorium now a socially distanced 400, and the sides far more open to allow greater air circulation.
Surprisingly, for Opera Holland Park, this was an entirely conventional production (set in the 18th Century) – beautifully sung and played (City of London Sinfonia) and with a (much reduced) Opera Holland Park Chorus (because of restrictions on amateur singer numbers).
The orchestra was surrounded by a thrust stage, so that action took place around it (which worked well). It was sensibly directed (lovers sung to each other, not to the far corners of the stage, as was not uncommon previously) and the cast was well directed (there were a number of ensemble movements and dances which looked well).
All necessary humour was found and well addressed, and Cherubino (Samantha Price) not only sang her principle song well, but acted it with a good comic understanding.
The slightly uncomfortable parts of the libretto were well brought out (all men are bastards, and aristos particularly so)
The Chorus of tenants (singing in praise of the Count’s feigned dropping of Droit de Seigneur) looked quite revolutionary as it waved flags (and quite right too!).
Overall a good production, well sung and acted.