Eye on the Cast: The Women of Figaro

The Marriage of Figaro, despite its title, might as well be called "The Marriage of Susanna," or, "The Countess's Dilemma," so compelling and significant to the plot are the female characters in Mozart's opera. These two stars bring the central women of The Marriage of Figaro to life with style, grace, and spunk to spare.

Anya Matanovic, singing her first Susanna in Madison Opera's production of Figaro, was born in Madison and raised in Washington state. Currently based in New York, she is a star on the rise, with recent credits at Cleveland Opera, Seattle Opera, and the New Israeli Opera. She made her Madison Opera debut this past summer at Opera in the Park, and this coming summer she makes her debut at the prestigious Glimmerglass Opera festival as Micaela in Carmen.

Melody Moore, the Countess Almaviva, arrived in Madison direct from London, where she was starring as Marguerite in a new production of Faust at the English National Opera. The Daily Telegraph praised her "thrillingly red-blooded singing," and previously in London, after a performance as Mimi in La Boheme, the Independent proclaimed: "this young lady is special." Based in San Francisco, Ms. Moore has recent credits at San Francisco Opera and LA Opera.