This weekend, the NDSU Challey School of Music will present their spring opera, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”

“The central theme of the opera is forgiveness,” Virginia Sublett, who has directed NDSU operas since 2006, said.

“Marriage of Figaro” is a comic opera detailing the misadventures and redemption of a womanizing count in 18th century Spain.

“There’s slapstick, there’s mistaken identity, there are people hiding and popping in and out of doors. It’s a lot of fun,” Sublett said.

Guest stage director Walker Lewis updated the setting of the opera to summer 1967, the “Summer of Love.” The colors are bold, the costumes are flamboyant and conflict between the old and the new permeates every scene.

“(Lewis’) decision to update it was based on the parallels he drew between the 1960s and the 1784 period,” Sublett said. “There’s this idea of changes in society, tension between the upper classes and the lower classes.”

“Marriage of Figaro” has particular relevance in today’s often uncertain social and political climates.

Students spent the fall semester preparing for “Marriage of Figaro,” learning and perfecting its challenging score. Since the middle of January, they have been working on staging with Lewis.

“Since Walker came, we’ve had a total of 83 hours of rehearsal,” Sublett said.

Performances will be held at Festival Concert Hall this Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free for NDSU students with IDs. Otherwise, tickets may be purchased at tickets.ndsu.nodak.edu.

MORE INFO:
WHEN: Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. & Feb. 19 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: NDSU Festival Concert Hall
HOW MUCH: Free for NDSU Students with I.D.
$15 adults, $12 senior (60+), $5 non-NDSU students
MORE INFO: Call (701) 231-7969 or visit the website