Joana Mallwitz Conducts Mozart’s “Figaro” at the Met
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Joana Mallwitz Debuts at the Met, Hails “Figaro” as a Masterpiece
Table of Contents
- Joana Mallwitz Debuts at the Met, Hails “Figaro” as a Masterpiece
- Joana Mallwitz: A Maestro’s Debut at the Met and Her Love for Mozart’s “Figaro”
- Who is Joana Mallwitz?
- What was Joana Mallwitz’s debut like at the Metropolitan Opera?
- How did Joana Mallwitz feel about conducting “Le Nozze di Figaro” at the Met?
- What makes “Le Nozze di Figaro” a masterpiece, according to Mallwitz?
- How does Mallwitz describe the qualities of opera?
- What is Mallwitz’s approach to interpreting Mozart today?
- Where did Joana Mallwitz rehearse “Le Nozze di Figaro” at age 19?
- How did the documentary “Momentum” influence her career?
- Quick Facts about Joana Mallwitz and “Le Nozze di Figaro”
NEW YORK (AP) — Conductor Joana Mallwitz marked a significant milestone in her career with her Metropolitan Opera debut this month, adding to recent appearances with the Berlin and Los Angeles Philharmonics. mallwitz, a seasoned stage performer, shared her insights on the New York audience and her deep connection to Mozart‘s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in a recent interview.
A Dream Realized at the Metropolitan Opera
Mallwitz reflected on the experience of conducting at the met. “The moment you stand on the podium, you’re not thinking about the magnitude of the situation,” Mallwitz said. “it’s a tremendous joy and honor to work in this house, with these incredible musicians, this fantastic orchestra, and a great cast. It’s marvelous to be able to rehearse at this level and focus on the details.”
“le Nozze di Figaro”: A Homecoming of Sorts
For Mallwitz, conducting “Le Nozze di Figaro” at the Met held special significance. She first encountered the opera at the age of 19 at the Heidelberg city theater, where it was a recurring part of the repertoire.”I conducted and played the harpsichord for the recitatives, over and over again,” she recalled. “Since than, I’ve conducted scenic productions at various houses. This work is both beloved and familiar to me, and being here in New York feels a bit like coming home, just in a different place.”

This work gives me the feeling of coming home.
joana Mallwitz on Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’
The Enduring Power of “Figaro”
Mallwitz emphasized the opera’s dynamic nature.” ‘Figaro’ is simply of outrageous speed,” she said. “Not only how quickly musical impulses jump back and forth, but also the plot. What happens is incredibly complex. it has an insane pace and is drama in a confined space. That’s why it is indeed such a masterpiece… It’s just the best piece.”
She added, “You always discover new things in masterpieces, and with ‘Figaro,’ it’s true in every detail. There is hardly any work that I know so well, and yet I find a small detail every time… that makes you huge fun in the performance.”
Opera: A Total Work of Art
Mallwitz highlighted the unique qualities of opera, notably Mozart’s ability to convey complex emotions thru ensemble pieces. “This is due to the miracle ‘opera,’ and how mozart writes for the entire ensemble,” she explained. “Such as, the grand finale of the second act… as it is indeed precisely put in music in this way, you can understand every single person on stage and understand what your inner emotions are. This miracle only works in the opera, and frankly, only at Mozart.”
Interpreting mozart Today
When asked about modern interpretations of Mozart, Mallwitz noted the ongoing research into historical performance practices. “In the past few decades,research has become more and more researched on how it could have sounded at Mozart’s time,” Mallwitz said. “At the same time, we will never be able to reproduce it because we just have completely different ears today… That means it will never be the same anyway.”
She concluded, “My very personal approach to Mozart is always looking for the connection between this music -ant, the chamber music and this fast -paced tone.”

