Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro shaped the future of comic opera and is, in many ways, the perfect upside-down romantic comedy. Composed five years before his untimely death, Le Nozze di Figaro is one of Amadeus Mozart’s most successful operas. Dr Linette van der Merwe was invited to sing the trouser role of the young teenage boy, Cherubino (translated as ‘little angel’). Cherubino is in love with all women—his godmother, the countess Rosina, the gardener’s daughter Barbarina and basically any other female within a 500-metre radius. This leads to many comic moments, a good dollop of farce, adultery, role-playing and cunning scheming.

The Opera Pannonica’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro in Croatia was performed on the stage of the Marin Držić Theatre on 25 and 26 June 2022 during the Summer Arts Festival in Dubrovnik. Opera Pannonica is an opera ensemble of the Academy of Arts and Culture from Osijek, founded in 2010, which brings together classical music artists from the city of Osijek, music professors and numerous international professional guests (from Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Greece). The Luka Sorkočević Art School orchestra accompanied the singers, and conductor Slobodan Begić led the ensemble.