Melbourne opera-goers are in for a surprise: a production of a masterpiece, set in an appropriate period with naturalistic sets and authentic costumes. This is very unusual, and tells us a great deal about the mistaken attitudes of many opera directors and their lack of confidence in the works they have been engaged to direct.

Opera Australia’s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro will open at the Arts Centre on 12 November. Directed by Sir David McVicar, it has elegant sets and costumes designed by Jenny Tiramani.   This production looks really beautiful, is utterly engaging and convincing. Because of the period setting, the behaviour of the characters makes complete sense to a contemporary audience.

I’m not suggesting there should be a rigid historical conformity in opera productions but the choice of period and style must serve the work as written. This is frequently not the case. Modernisation in a crude attempt at ‘relevance’ insults the audience’s intelligence. Audiences have no trouble relating to successful period dramas nightly on television. Modern productions haven’t increased opera audiences; quite the contrary.

OA is fortunate (and wise) to have secured the services of McVicar for the trilogy of operas Mozart created with his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte: Don Giovanni, Figaro and Cosi fan tutte. It was a collaboration which produced Mozart’s finest operas. Cosi is to be directed by McVicar next year. To look forward to.