The Ghosts of Versailles

The Ghosts of Versailles

180 mins | Music | Jan. 10, 1992

What happened to Figaro and his friends after the events told in Rossini’s and Mozart’s operas? One possible sequel is told in John Corigliano’s “grand opera buffa” The Ghosts of Versailles—an uproariously funny and deeply moving work inspired by Beaumarchais’s third Figaro play, La Mère Coupable, and commissioned by the Met to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This telecast captures its world premiere run, conducted by James Levine. Håkan Hagegård is Beaumarchais, Figaro’s creator, who is deeply in love with Marie Antoinette (Teresa Stratas in a heart-searing performance) and determined to rewrite history and save her from the guillotine. A young Renée Fleming, at the beginning of her international career, sings the unfaithful Rosina. Gino Quilico is the wily Figaro who tries to take matters in his own hands, and Marilyn Horne stops the show as the exotic entertainer Samira.

The Ghosts of Versailles

180 mins | Music | Jan. 10, 1992

The Ghosts of Versailles
What happened to Figaro and his friends after the events told in Rossini’s and Mozart’s operas? One possible sequel is told in John Corigliano’s “grand opera buffa” The Ghosts of Versailles—an uproariously funny and deeply moving work inspired by Beaumarchais’s third Figaro play, La Mère Coupable, and commissioned by the Met to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This telecast captures its world premiere run, conducted by James Levine. Håkan Hagegård is Beaumarchais, Figaro’s creator, who is deeply in love with Marie Antoinette (Teresa Stratas in a heart-searing performance) and determined to rewrite history and save her from the guillotine. A young Renée Fleming, at the beginning of her international career, sings the unfaithful Rosina. Gino Quilico is the wily Figaro who tries to take matters in his own hands, and Marilyn Horne stops the show as the exotic entertainer Samira.
Producers The Metropolitan Opera
Original title The Ghosts of Versailles
Directors Colin Graham, Brian Large
Writers William M. Hoffman

Cast

Teresa Stratas

as Marie Antoinette

Håkan Hagegård

as Beaumarchais

Gino Quilico

as Figaro

Renée Fleming

as Rosina

Marilyn Horne

as Samira

Graham Clark

as Bégearss

Judith Christin

as Susanna

Peter Kazaras

as Count Almaviva

Tracey Dahl

as Florestine

Neil Rosenshein

as Léon

Stella Zambalis

as Cherubino

Wilbur Pauley

as Wilhelm

Jane Shaulis

as Elegant Woman in a Hat

Richard Drews

as The Marquis

James Courtney

as Louis XVI

Ara Berberian

as Suleyman Pasha

Dean Badolato

as The Pasha's Page

Philip Cokorinos

as English Ambassador

Midhat Serbagi

as Egyptian Violist

Betsy Norden

as Gossip

Kitt Reuter-Foss

as Gossip

Wendy Hoffmann

as Gossip