The Ghosts of Versailles
8.5
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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Cast
39 people
Teresa Stratas
Marie Antoinette
Also in
La traviata
Pagliacci
Håkan Hagegård
Beaumarchais
Known for
The Magic Flute
Daniel Anker
Julie Taymor
Brian Large
William M. Hoffman
Gino Quilico
Figaro
Also in
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Orfeo
John Corigliano
Renée Fleming
Rosina
Also in
Margaret
Strauss R: Der Rosenkavalier
Peter Gelb
Marilyn Horne
Samira
Known for
Carmen Jones
Jay David Saks
Brian Large Director · Colin Graham Director William M. Hoffman Writer
United States release January 10, 1992 · Produced in United States
Production
The Metropolitan Opera
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United States · January 10, 1992
Theatrical
Japan
February 12, 1994
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Some details come from TheTVDB.