Season at Stephens has brought a wide range of productions to Ames. From timeless classics like “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” to “Aida” and “Rent.”

This month is no different as Stephens brings the Bulgarian State Academic Opera to the stage, performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous classic, “Le nozze di Figaro ossia la folle giornata,” or “The Marriage of Figaro.”

The Marriage of Figaro, an opera buffa, or comic opera, was composed in 1786, once again joining Mozart with his librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, whose fame came directly from Mozart’s three operas, “Cos fan tutte,” “Don Giovanni” and, of course, “Le nozze di Figaro.”

Set to take place three years after Gioachino Antonio Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” Figaro, the concierge and valet of Count Almaviva, and his fiancee Suzanne, the head chambermaid to the Countess, uncover the vile plans of the Count. Through his constant flirtation with Suzanne, the Count unveils that his feelings for his wife have become stagnant and stale, and uncovers his hidden affections for Figaro’s betrothed, which Suzanne

admits to Figaro, setting in motion their plot to ensnare the Count with his own desires.

According to Inside Iowa State, Brad Dell, lecturer of music said, “At points, Figaro is a farce. There are disguises and mistaken identities throughout. It’s great fun for the audience, although there are some very serious moments as well.”

Dell was interviewed this past fall as Iowa State celebrated the 250th birthday of Mozart, bringing together the ISU Music and ISU Theatre departments, with its own production of “The Marriage of Figaro,” directed by Dell.

“I love the fact that it is so many different art forms coming together in a single production,” said Theodore Brimeyer, senior in music.

“The singing, the orchestra, the sets, the costumes, everything is working together and it’s all art. The sheer scope of a performance is huge,”

“‘The Marriage of Figaro’ is one of the most popular and often-performed operas in the world. It would be a great starting point for anyone who has little or no experience with opera.”

Brought to life by Ivan Kyurkchiev, the Bulgarian State Academic Opera has been keeping the art of opera alive, as well as their Bulgarian operatic traditions, since 1996.

The BSAO prides itself on creating unique performances and has been the sparking point for many respected and distinguished professional singers, such as Nikolay Gyaurov and Ghena Dimitrova.

Apart from their worldwide recognition, the Bulgarian State Academic Opera’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro” will prove to be a perfect night out at the theater.