"... passionate, well-rehearsed and so invested..." Lucy Gibbons

The Marriage of Figaro - performed by the Welsh National Opera at Mayflower Theatre

This was my first time going to the opera at Mayflower Theatre, and while The Marriage of Figaro didn’t completely win me over, I’m still really glad I went.

It was genuinely heartwarming to see so many elderly people in the audience—most were in their 70s and 80s—just really enjoying themselves. That alone made the experience feel special, seeing that there’s always something for everyone.

I also loved that the whole production was local to the UK, performed by the Welsh National Opera. That gave it a nice sense of community, and the performers and musicians really did a great job last night. You could tell they were passionate, well-rehearsed and so invested in doing their best!

WNO The Marriage of Figaro - Chen Reiss Countess Almaviva - photo credit Dafydd Owen

That said, the staging wasn’t great.

There was no proper flooring—just the plain black stage—which made everything look a bit unfinished, like something was missing. It kind of took away from the atmosphere (not sure whether that was intentional or not). Other than that, everything else was lovely and well presented, from costumes to props and make up.

The opera was sung in Italian, and while there were subtitles, they weren’t always there when you needed them, which got confusing at times—especially for someone new to opera like me.

The orchestra was outstanding and I could’ve watched them play all night long. The sound quality was perfect both from the orchestra and the performers.

I still think opera is for a more specific audience, but it’s also something younger people could really learn from.

WNO The Marriage of Figaro - Giorgio Caoduro Count Almaviva - photo credit Dafydd Owen

It’s an art form with a lot of history. Personally, I find musicals more accessible, especially for the younger generations—they feel like a natural evolution of opera and are probably easier for a modern audience to connect with.

Still, I wouldn’t dismiss inviting others to experience a night at the opera—although a shorter version would be more suitable for those who are still discovering the art and not yet fully immersed into it.

All in all, I enjoyed the experience, always have a great time at Mayflower Theatre with their friendly staff, comfortable seats and excellent structure! The opera was a bit too long for my taste, and I struggled to keep up with the plot.

It was a memorable night, with the most heart-warming audience and it certainly was a nice introduction to a whole new world of performance.

Discover more opera at Mayflower Theatre