Ambrose Connolly as Figaro
Figaro’s Cavatina “Se vuol ballare”
On August 6, the 17th edition of the Musicales de Cormeilles Festival welcomed, for the thirteenth time, the British company Diva Opera. Their production of The Marriage of Figaro turned the theater in this Normandy town into a chamber-like jewel box, offering the audience an intimate immersion into Mozart’s world.
Bryan Evans, Diva Opera’s musical and artistic director, was enough to convey both the vitality and the gravity of Mozart’s score. The deliberately pared‑down staging left space for voices, glances, and breaths. Close to the spectators, the singers built a warm dialogue, transforming opera from spectacle into shared experience.

Photo©Jean-Claude Djian
The Countess’s Cavatina “Porgi amor qualche ristoro”
The Singers Up Close
One could hear the natural grain of their voices, the tension of their breath. At the heart of the intrigue, Ambrose Connolly embodied a Figaro full of charm and mischievous energy. Beside him, Tereza Gevorgyan shone as Susanna, combining liveliness and grace. Mary McCabe, as the Countess, offered a sensitive performance, blending nobility with sorrow and forgiveness. Jean-Kristof Bouton gave the Count a nuanced depth, at once authoritative and disoriented.

Photo©Jean-Claude Djian
Susanna’s Aria “Venite, inginocchiatevi, restate fermo lì!”
Diva Opera: 29 Years of Operatic Adventures
Founded in 1996 by former New Zealand soprano Anne Marabini Young and pianist Bryan Evans, Diva Opera was created to bring opera to places where it is rarely seen. This year, the troupe celebrates its 29th anniversary. Performing more than forty shows annually with two works each season, Diva Opera remains a close‑knit family of twenty artists who live and travel together. This spirit of ensemble is the hallmark of their unconventional operatic journey. In 2025, Diva Opera tours with Don Pasquale by Donizetti and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
In 2025, Diva Opera tours with Don Pasquale by Donizetti and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Photo©Jean-Claude Djian
The Count’s Aria “Vedrò mentr’io sospiro”
Les Musicales de Cormeilles: Roots and Horizons
Seventeen years ago, Éric Dumont and his team founded the festival with strong local ties, supported by local businesses and artisans. Under the theme Viva la Vida, the 2025 edition celebrated life in all its musical forms. In the gentle summer nights of Cormeilles, far from the grandeur of major stages, Mozart was experienced as an intimate conversation.
On August 6, The Marriage of Figaro was not only performed – it was shared. With Mozart, the momentum became universal.
Portrait of the Troupe

Photo©Jean-Claude Djian
Voices Behind the Adventure
- Mary McCabe (Countess) – Irish soprano, acclaimed for vocal warmth, power, and emotional depth.
- “The Countess is a deeply moving role, because I feel her fragility. I find in her the human sorrows I have also lived, and that makes performing her so intimate.”
- Tereza Gevorgyan (Susanna) – Armenian soprano, internationally recognized, with a wide operatic and concert repertoire.
“At Diva Opera we become a family. Singing so close to the audience changes everything: you can meet their eyes, sing directly to them. Susanna is a huge role – long and demanding – but the public loves her.”
- Ambrose Connolly (Figaro) – British baritone, winner of the international Serebranie Rosi Opera Prize.
“With Anne and Bryan, everything makes sense. These are not just roles, but real stage relationships. Our mission is to tell a story in an intimate and living space, and the energy comes from that.”
- Jean-Kristof Bouton (Count) – Franco‑Canadian baritone, active across European stages in leading roles.
“Diva Opera does not recruit only for the voice, but for the ability to work together. There is real chemistry between us, and you feel it on stage. Singing with this troupe gave me opportunities in England – and then I fell in love with them.”

Photo©Jean-Claude Djian
Voices Behind the Adventure
Bryan Evans, Music Director
“We wanted to bring opera where it was not expected. The voice only comes alive in relation to others and to the audience.”
Anne Marabini Young, Co‑Founder of Diva Opera
“Over the years we have become a true family. Travelling, living and singing together creates a unique alchemy on stage.”
Éric Dumont, Director of Les Musicales de Cormeilles
“We receive only 25% of our funding through subsidies, but that fragile balance creates real strength: the support of the community. Diva Opera, through its loyalty, perfectly embodies the bond between artistic excellence and local roots.”
Jean-Claude Djian








































Photo © Jean-Claude Djian



