Aleksandra Kurzak
Aleksandra Kurzak is beautiful Susanna in the British Royal Opera's production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro
The performance crowns the Royal Opera’s Mozart-Da Ponte series. Performed from mid February until the beginning of March, the final production of Mozart’s great score has a wealth of famous numbers and provides the singer a chance to display her full vocal spectrum. The revival is fortunate to have an exceptional cast of internationally acclaimed singers in these roles. Aleksandra Kurzak as Susanna is the wife of Figaro, portrayed as the quick-witted manservant by Ildebrando D’arcangelo - under the baton of Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera.
Figaro's attempts to protect his betrothed Susanna from the designs of Count Almaviva provide the starting point, but the action soon draws in the entire chateau household to reveal poignant undercurrents. The setting of David McVicar’s production in 1830 – with sumptuous and realistic designs – provides the perfect backdrop for the unresolved tensions between the classes of Revolutionary Europe. Whether enjoyed for its wit and sparkle, its emotional depth or sheer musical pleasure, Le nozze di Figaro is one of the masterpieces of classical opera.
Jim Pritchard thus praises the rising Polish star for her role in ROH's production in Seen and Heard International:
I leave the best for last and that is Aleksandra Kurzak’s Susanna, her Act IV ‘Deh vieni, non tardar’ was stunning and indicates that everyone should see her in Figaro while they can – if she is as good with angst as she is in comedy her beautiful silvery soprano voice must be destined for more significant Verdi, and possibly Puccini, roles in years to come. She is the complete actor-singer and was clearly the stage-manager for the events of the whole opera, and she valiantly endured all the groping and controlled everything with a winning smile and an abundance of innate charm that they cannot teach in the music college.
BBC Music Magazine's Helen Wallace also expresses her enthusiasm for the young singer's talent:
Aleksandra Kurzak’s silvery bright Susanna... Kurzak and D’Arcangelo, both in the 2008 revival, bring a delightful fluidity to their roles and movement, mastering the stage in every situation, Kurzak all feline sensuality, D’Arcangelo becoming more and more like the suave Spanish Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 3 (and that’s a compliment).
As does Mark Berry in Opera Today
Here the undoubted star was Aleksandra Kursak’s Susanna, ever musical, ever lively, and above all ever alert to the twists and turns Da Ponte and Mozart lovingly throw her way. One could not, for the duration of the performance, imagine it being done better any other way. Phrasing was telling but unobtrusive, likewise her sideways glances.
Polish-born soprano Aleksandra Kurzak began her musical education at the age of 7, playing violin and piano. She studied voice at the conservatories of Wrocław and Hamburg. Kurzak in fact made her professional opera debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at the age of 21 at the Wroclaw State Opera. Later this season, she takes up the role of Figaro's Susanna once again, in a production of the opera at the Austrian Wiener Staatsoper in June. Throughout June and July she is also set to perform as Violetta in La Traviata at the National Opera House in Warsaw and the Staatsoper in Berlin, as well as Juliette in Romeo and Juliette at the Italian Arena di Verona. Following the fruitful year of 2011, which brought her a Decca debut album and the Seattle Opera Artist of the Year title, the young star's career is consisently gaining momentum.
The performance was staged in early February, 2012, with subsequent performances of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House in London returning later in the month:
Wednesday 22nd of February 2012, 7:00 pm
Friday 24th of February 2012, 7:00 pm
Tuesday 28th of Februrary 2012, 7:00 pm
Friday 2nd of March 2012, 7:00 pm
source: www.aleksandrakurzak.com, www.roh.org.uk