The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) will present a specially narrated version of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the Maison symphonique in Montreal on March 18 and 20, 2026. The production, featuring conductor Rafael Payare, aims to offer a fresh perspective on the 1786 opera, which blends comedy and satire.
The OSM’s staging will feature Anna Prohaska as Susanna, Ildebrando d’Arcangelo as Figaro, Luca Pisaroni as Count Almaviva, and Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha as Countess Almaviva. Avery Amereau will perform the role of Cherubino, with Dorothea Roschmann as Marcellina and Robert Pomakov as Don Bartolo. Angelo Moretti will portray Basilio/Don Curzio, Geoffroy Salvas will be Antonio, and Carole-Anne Roussel will sing Barbarina. Mani Soleymanlou authored the narration, which will be delivered by Madeleine Sarr.
The Marriage of Figaro, with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte inspired by Beaumarchais’ play, follows the attempts of Figaro and Suzanne to outwit Count Almaviva. The opera critiques aristocratic privilege while highlighting the resourcefulness of the working class, according to the OSM. The performance will be a condensed version, lasting approximately 190 minutes, including narration.
Tickets for the March 18th and 20th performances are currently sold out, according to Place des Arts. The OSM’s production is a collaboration with several artists and is presented in Italian with subtitles in both French and English.
A Facebook post from OSMconcerts on March 10, 2026, highlighted the central conflict of the opera, stating, “If the story of the marriage seems joyfully chaotic to you, it’s because Figaro wants to marry Susanna. Simple, isn’t it?”
