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.

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  Teresa Stratas

  Marie Antoinette
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  Håkan Hagegård

  Beaumarchais
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  Gino Quilico

  Figaro
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  Renée Fleming

  Rosina
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  Marilyn Horne

  Samira
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  Judith Christin

  Susanna
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  Tracy Dahl

  Florestine
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  Wilbur Pauley

  Wilhelm
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  James Courtney

  Louis XVI
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  Wendy Hoffmann

  Gossip