Airdate: The Marriage of Figaro

In recent months there were plenty of outcries about diminishing coverage of Arts on the ABC.

This Sunday ABC begins the first of its new partnership with Opera Australia.

Over the next three years 15 operas will be broadcast on ABC1 and ABC2.

The first is The Marriage Of Figaro filmed at the Sydney Opera House as part of the 2010 season.

“This great partnership deepens ABC TV’s ongoing commitment to the delivery of the very finest in Arts programming,” said Kim Dalton, Director of Television.

“Opera Australia and ABC TV have worked very hard to make sure that all Australians have the opportunity to enjoy the work of one of the premier performing arts organisations in Australia.”

This production of The Marriage of Figaro is directed by Neil Armfield and stars Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Peter Coleman-Wright, Rachelle Durkin, Taryn Fiebig and Sian Pendry. The Marriage of Figaro is the story of one crazy day for the servant Figaro. He is about to get married to Susanna, but his boss, the Count Almaviva, is keen to exercise his ‘droit de seigneur’ – the Lord of the Manor’s right to have first go at the bride.

Meanwhile, the Count’s wife is feeling neglected and almost falls for the attentions of her adolescent page boy. Between them Figaro and Susanna must make sure everyone ends up with the right partner. While it might sound like a bedroom farce, an edge of sexual and social politics is never far from the surface.

2pm Sunday 13 November on ABC1 and repeated on ABC2 at 10:05pm.