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.
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
Tracy Dahl
as Florestine
Neil Rosenshein
as Léon
Stella Zambalis
as Cherubino
Wilbur Pauley
as Wilhelm
