The Royal Opera Chorus, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. - Figaro: Erwin Schrott, Susanna: Miah Persson, Countess: Dorothea Roeschmann, Count Almaviva: Gerald Finley, Marcellina: Graciela Araya, Barbarina: Ana James, Cherubino: Rinat Shaham

In David McVicar’s spellbinding production of Le nozze di Figaro the break-down of the relationship between Finley’s suave, dashingly self-absorbed Count and Röschmann’s passionately dignified Countess lies at the heart of the opera. The struggle to rekindle their love contrasts tragic-comically with the sexy ease between a feisty Figaro (Erwin Schrott) and a sassy Susanna (Miah Persson) is starkly absent, and the tenacious spark that remains between Marcellina (Graciela Araya) and Bartolo (Jonathan Veira). Antonio Pappano conducts (and accompanies the recitatives) with invigorating wit and emotional depth, allowing the ensemble to capture the moments of dramatic tension to perfection and engaging fully with the rhythm of an already classic production, captured in High Definition video and surround sound