Director

Verdi’s Il Trovatore is an epic tale of love and sacrifice, deception and revenge.
Manrico and the Count di Luna, on opposite sides of a civil war in 1400s Spain, don’t know they are actually brothers. Both are in love with Leonora; she loves Manrico and spurns the Count’s advances.
Azucena is the tormented woman who raised Manrico. Years ago, the Count’s father killed Azucena’s mother. Azucena swore to avenge her mother’s death, and will do whatever it takes to punish the Count and his family.
After the Count captures Azucena, Manrico attempts to rescue her. When Manrico himself is then captured, Leonora tells the Count she will give herself to him in exchange for Manrico’s freedom. But Leonora and Azucena each have deadly tricks up their sleeves, and are determined to have the last laughs.

EPSG:4326

Il Trovatore

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro is one of the most popular comic operas of all time. Filled with amusing cases of mistaken identity and romantic subterfuge, plus music by a Mozart at the height of his powers, The Marriage of Figaro has stood the test of time for centuries. 
The Marriage of Figaro is a sequel to The Barber of Seville. The story opens several years later, in Count Almaviva’s palace near Seville, Spain. Rosina is now the Countess, but her husband has lost much of his interest in her and is a would-be philanderer.
Figaro is in love with the Countess’s servant Susanna, who he plans to wed that very day. However, their employer Count Almaviva has his eye on Susanna. In fact, the Count intends to invoke the hated feudal practice of droit de seigneur—the infamous right of the lord to sleep with a commoner’s bride on her wedding night.
Figaro, Susanna, and the Countess are understandably outraged at this possibility, and are determined not only to prevent it, but to teach the Count a lesson.

The Marriage of Figaro

The rich world of Slavic composers is explored in this program and includes both beloved favorites and lesser known but gorgeous works rarely heard.
SongFest singers and pianists.

Mark Trawka

Director

Events

Mar 25 - Apr 2, 2023

Il Trovatore · Pittsburgh Opera

5 - 13 Nov, 2022

The Marriage of Figaro · Pittsburgh Opera

Jun 16, 2022

EAST OF THE ELBE, DOWN THE DANUBE · SongFest

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