Bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni has been opera’s go-to Figaro for many years, but his interpretation and vocal prowess continue to pull in superlative critical commentary in his latest reprisal of the role for Canadian Opera’s production of Le nozze di Figaro. Performances of the Claus Guth staging continue in Toronto until 18 February. Catherine Kustanczy, in a special to the Globe and Mail, writes:
“Luca Pisaroni’s Figaro a magnetic focal point. Moving seamlessly between anger, joy, confusion, and pathos, his Figaro is recognizably human if ultimately doomed by his own capacity for feeling. Non più andrai (“You Shall Go No More”), in which he violently sends the shocked Cherubino off to war, is a showcase of barking performative masculinity to sexual rival and boss Almaviva; Aprite un po quegli occhi in the final act, in which he entreats men to “open your eyes” to the “sirens who draw us in”, is shot through with authentic hurt at his realization at Susanna’s betrayal. The Italian bass-baritone, who has performed the roles of both Figaro and the Count at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, and the Paris Opera, consistently channels the earthy element in Guth’s high-concept vision.”
Other write-ups echoed these views:
“The headliner is Luca Pisaroni as Figaro, playing the manservant as a self confident fixer who isn’t quite as in control of everything as he thinks he is. It was very effective […] There was an “about to explode” quality about his acting which was belied by stylish singing…” – John Gilks, Bachtrack
“A charming Figaro with a magnetic voice” – Denise Lai, My Scena
“Pisaroni has a nerdy, goofy charm that ensures the comedic bits of the role land each time, and the bass-baritone’s voice adapts to the tone of each performance, from a rough, threatening performance alongside the Count as they send Cherubino off to war to softer, more vulnerable moments late in the story. He’s also got fantastic chemistry with the entire cast…” – Isabella Perrone, Broadway World
Pisaroni’s recent engagements include his debut as Don Rodrigue in the world premiere of Marc-André Dalbavie’s Le Soulier de satin with Opéra national de Paris, the Four Villains in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann at Wiener Staatsoper and Hamburg Staatsoper, Leporello at Gran Teatre del Liceu, as well as Don Giovanni (title role) Le Nozze di Figaro (Figaro) and Così fan tutte (Guglielmo) at the Metropolitan Opera.
Pisaroni returns to Europe in March to sing Golaud with the Orchestre National de France in Paris on 3 and 5 March followed by repeats of his signature Figaro at the Semperoper Dresden and he then returns to the Opera National de Paris as the King of Scotland in their new Robert Carsen production of Handel’s Ariodante.
For more information see: https://lucapisaroni.com/
Photo credit: Michael Cooper
