DANBURY, CONN. — The deception unfolds slowly but the virtuosity will be readily revealed in “The Marriage of Figaro,” a comic opera in four acts to be performed in Italian with English supertitles by the Western Connecticut State University Opera Ensemble this month. First performed in Vienna in May 1786, “Figaro” will be staged at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the WestConn Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Tickets will be $15 for the public, and $10 for senior citizens and children 12 and under. WCSU students with valid I.D. will be admitted free.

The first of three collaborations between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo da Ponte,

“The Marriage of Figaro” was initially considered “dangerous” in the decade before the French revolution because of its satirical look at the French aristocracy. The opera later became one of Mozart’s most successful works, based in part on its well-known overture, which often is played as a concert piece.

“Figaro” follows the storyline introduced in Pierre Beaumarchais’ comedic play, “The Barber of Seville,” and recounts a single day in the palace of the Count Almaviva in Spain. “Seville’s” Rosina is now a Countess and her husband, Count Almaviva, is seeking the favors of young Susanna, who is betrothed to Figaro, the Count’s valet. When the Count detects the interest of the page Cherubino in several women, including the Countess, Almaviva tries to get rid of Cherubino by giving him an officer’s commission and sending him off to Seville. As the intrigue intensifies, Figaro, Susanna and the Countess conspire to embarrass the Count and expose his attempts at infidelity. At night, the major players all find themselves on the palace grounds, where a lost hat pin and a comic series of cases of mistaken identity result in the Count’s humiliation and ultimate forgiveness by the Countess.

A talented cadre of WCSU students will give voice to the opera’s characters. They include Hernan Berisso, of Greenwich, as Figaro; Jennifer Caraluzzi, of Bethel, as Susanna; Alex Patrie, of Enfield, as Count Almaviva; Victoria Chiera, of Brookfield, as the Countess.

Berisso, a senior studying music education, has performed in several WCSU Opera performances and attended the Opera Festival di Roma last summer, performing in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote in Rome, Italy. Caraluzzi, a winner of numerous opera scholarships and competitions, also performs with a WCSU Jazz Combo and has sung the National Anthem at Shea Stadium eight times. She is a senior vocal performance major who has been a regular in WCSU Opera productions. Patrie, a bass-baritone majoring in voice, is a WestConn sophomore who has appeared in two previous WCSU Opera productions. His musical abilities extend to classical guitar, as well. Chiera, a senior vocal performance major, also has appeared in several WCSU Opera productions and was the recipient of two significant vocal scholarships. She teaches voice and musical theater classes in Brewster, N.Y.

Talented vocalists Karolina Wojteczko, of Derby, as Cherubino; Caitlin Keeler, of Ridgefield, as Marcellina; Joshua Lara, of New Britain, as Bartolo; Matthew Popp, of Orange, as Antonio; Michael Martone, of Guilford, as Don Basilio; Scott Towers, of Branford, as Don Curzio; and Hannah Roemhild, of Norwich, as Barbarina, round out the rest of the cast.

The performance will be directed by WCSU Professor of Music Dr. Margaret Astrup with WCSU Associate Professor of Music Dr. Fernando Jimenez conducting the WCSU Orchestra.

Tickets are available by calling (203) 837-8499 or at www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.