WFCC

Classical Fact

There is often as much politics in art as there is in politics. Pierre Auguste Caron de Beaumarchais' play, Le mariage de Figaro, was banned in Paris. Not surprising - considering Beaumarchais took part in the revolution and was staunchly anti-aristocratic. Also his autobiographical play exposed the outrageous presumption of privilege perpetrated by members of the French upper class. Mozart admired the play and directly adapted the work. While Mozart worked on his new opera, there was a growing climate of hostility among some Italian musicians working in Vienna, and they labored to have Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro banned from the stage. It ran for less than ten performances in Vienna, but was an enormous hit in Prague.