5 reasons to see The Marriage of Figaro

  • Published on 23.6.2026

1. Mozart’s music is brilliant

The sound of the music in The Marriage of Figaro feels as natural as birdsong. The music drives the plot, reacts to emotions with perfect precision, and builds tension that releases at exactly the right moment. Every scene feels alive, because the composer develops the characters through the music. 

Although lightness, wit and vitality are at the heart of the opera, it is the subtle contrasts, the deep emotion, liveliness and sparkling charm that give the work its soul.

 

2. A top Finnish and international cast

Waltteri Torikka makes his long-awaited debut as the Count. “The role of the Count is a dream role I have hoped for since the beginning of my vocal studies. In The Marriage of Figaro every character is full of layers and ego, and that offers the performer endless material to draw from, moments of theatrical delight and possibilities of interpretation,” Torikka says. 

The title role is shared by bass-baritones Henning von Schulman and Kristian Lindroos, with their Susannas sung by sopranos Iris Candelaria and Lucrezia Drei. Von Schulman returns to Savonlinna after his great success in 2024, when he charmed audiences and critics as Leporello in Don Giovanni. He is remembered especially for his comic talent and for being a true creature of the stage. 

The role of the Countess is shared by sopranos Sonja Herranen and Johanna Nylund, both making their role debuts, and their Counts are baritones Waltteri Torikka and Jérôme Boutillier. Boutillier has also performed this role at the Opéra National de Paris and will make his Savonlinna debut next summer. 

The cast also includes leading Finnish artists such as mezzo-soprano Tuija Knihtilä and bass Matti Turunen. 

 

3. The story is a bold comedy

The servants prove to be wiser than their masters, love prevails, and cleverness and wit triumph over hierarchy. Mozart and the librettist Da Ponte were social critics of their time, and their humorous rebellion still works today. It was no coincidence that they chose Beaumarchais’ play as the basis for their opera. The play could not be performed because of censorship, since its criticism of the aristocracy was considered too strong and too direct. 

Da Ponte, however, knew how to navigate this skilfully. He softened the story carefully, but Mozart added his own emphasis in the music and hid the critique of aristocratic power within the orchestral sound. In this way they were able to express bold ideas even in an age of censorship. 

4. The characters are multi-layered and genuinely human

Susanna and Figaro are sharp and multidimensional, but so are the Count and the Countess, and everyone else as well. No one is a mere caricature. The motivations of each character feel understandable, and this makes the plot movingeven in the midst of farce. The characters are layered throughout, each with their own burdens, reasons and driving forces. That is why this opera feels so full of life. Perhaps every listener finds a character in The Marriage of Figaro who is closer than one might think. And that is why Figaro is an opera for everyone. 

5. Johannes Erath’s direction is colourful and truly funny

The costumes draw from the Commedia dell’Arte, from the elegance of the Rococo and from contemporary silhouettes. The direction moves through the entire history of theatre. Erath’s staging is visually enticing and full of insightful references to past theatrical traditions, yet at the same time it speaks strongly to today’s audience. He builds a world on stage in which styles enter into dialogue with one another and in which musical rhythm, physical comedy and deep humanity exist side by side. In this way The Marriage of Figaro unfolds both as a celebration of aesthetics and as a perceptive commentary on the dynamics of human relationships and power. 

The Marriage of Figaro at Olavinlinna Castle on 3., 6., 9., 13., 16., 20., 22. & 25.7. at 7pm.

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