The Figaro Plays: The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother: Three BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations

A trilogy of classic plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais, including The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother

Forerunner to the renowned operas, The Figaro Plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais are a celebration of how intelligence and wit can bring any servant level with their aristocratic masters. Considered scandalous in their time, the plays went on to be adapted by Rossini (The Barber of Seville) and Mozart (The Marriage of Figaro) to become some of the most popular and acclaimed operas of all time. These original plays show us the stories behind these popular operas.

In The Barber of Seville, Count Almaviva falls in love with a young noblewoman, but every attempt to seduce her is countered by her watchful guardian. Only his resourceful servant Figaro may get him what he wants... The Marriage of Figaro sees the Count grown tired of his marriage to Rosina, and instead his thoughts turn to Suzannah, Figaro's own fiancée. Will Figaro's wiles prove sufficient to save two marriages? And in The Guilty Mother, the Countess Almaviva finds troubles of her own with an illegitimate child on the way, and a scheming Major on hand to make every slip-up into a catastrophe. Once again, all depend on Figaro...

Translated by John Wells, the English actor, satirist, screenwriter, and co-founder of the magazine Private Eye, this trilogy of comic dramas are masterpieces of power, humour, and marital misadventure.

The Barber of Seville Cast Gary Bond - Count Almaviva Nickolas Grace - Figaro Dorothy Tutin - Rosina Michael Aldridge - Bartholo Peter Pratt - Master Basil Michael Bilton - The Youth John Wells - Wide-awake Peter Acre - Notary Arnold Diamond - An Alcade

The Marriage of Figaro Cast Dorothy Tutin - The Countess Gary Bond - Count Almaviva Nickolas Grace - Figaro Alison Steadman - Suzannah Michael Aldridge - Bartholo Jean Boht - Marcellina John McAndrew - The Cherub Peter Pratt - Basil Moir Leslie - Little Fanny Michael Bilton - Antonio John Wells - Don Guzman Bridlegoose Peter Acre - Grab Michael Jenner - Ebenezer Sunshine Helena Breck & Narissa Knights - Bridesmaids

The Guilty Mother Cast Alison Steadman - Suzannah Nickolas Grace - Figaro Norman Rodway - Major Bejorass Gary Bond - Count Almaviva John McAndrew - Leon Moir Leslie - Floresta Dorothy Tutin - The Countess John Wells - Wilhelm Arnold Diamond - Mr Dim

Production credits Music Composed & Conducted by Carl Davis Written by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais Translated by John Wells Produced and Directed by Ian Cotterell

Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 3: 29 May 1985 (The Barber of Seville) 12 June 1985 (The Guilty Mother) 1 January 1986 (The Marriage of Figaro)

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© 2022 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529902761

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Lydbog: 29. december 2022