Sir Thomas Allen’s production of Mozart’s comic masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro, opens in Glasgow this May, before touring to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. With 17 performances, including two Access shows, our sumptuous staging is sung in English and set to reach up to 22,000 audience members all over Scotland.
A revival of his 2010 show, the great British baritone’s take on this timeless tale of social revolution and change is full of humour, subtlety, and wit. Allen directed our recent productions of The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni and The Barber of Seville, the latter also sung in English with the same central character of Figaro.
Conducted by Dane Lam (Carmen 2023) and our Chorus Director, Susannah Wapshott (Don Pasquale 2024), Mozart’s bubbling score shows him at his theatrical best – with a true genius for getting to the heart of each character. Simon Higlett’s lavish designs provide the backdrop for this much-loved production of an opera that is as relevant today as ever.
Emerging Artist Edward Jowle and Emyr Wyn Jones share the lead role of Figaro, with Ava Dodd (in her Company debut) and Emerging Artist Kira Kaplan as Susanna, Ian Rucker (also making his debut) as Count Almaviva, Alexandra Lowe as Countess Almaviva, and Simone McIntosh and Emerging Artist Chloe Harris alternating Cherubino. Also in the cast are Jeni Bern as Marcellina, Edward Hawkins as Doctor Bartolo, Emerging Artist Luvo Maranti as Don Basilio/Don Curio, and Francis Church as Antonio.
Sir Thomas, who was awarded The Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025, and performed in The Marriage of Figaro as a singer at opera houses all over the world during his illustrious career of more than 50 years, said of the production: ‘The Marriage of Figaro, recognised worldwide as one of the greatest cultural creations known to man, returns once more to Scottish Opera. But this time it’s different. The opera will be sung in English, making it even more accessible for audience, and personally I am very excited to bring the piece to life for a cast and audiences alike, relishing a language that speaks directly to them. It’s where I began my acquaintance with Figaro nearly sixty years ago. I wonder what I’ve learnt in the meantime?’
To book tickets for The Marriage of Figaro, visit The Marriage of Figaro | Scottish Opera