Comedy and confusion come to the Helena Civic Center when the Helena Symphony performs Mozart's popular opera, "Marriage of Figaro" April 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Music Director Allan R. Scott, working with award-winning stage director Anne Basinski of the University of Montana, will will do a fully staged production, drawing in national and Montana talent.

You may want to grab your tickets now, according to Scott.

"Opera performances have been our biggest concerts of the year," he said.

And it's not just in Helena. Opera's popularity has been growing in general across the country.

"Opera is the hottest thing going for audiences 25-45 years old," Scott said.

The opera is based on a play by Pierre Beaumarchais -- the same play that would also inspire Rossini's opera, the "Barber of Seville," 20 years later, which is actually the prequel to Figaro.

Composed in 1786, Figaro pokes fun at the aristocracy, particularly the lecherous Count Almaviva.

The action all takes place one crazy day in the Count's castle near Seville. The Count's valet, Figaro, is preparing to wed Susanna, a maid to Countess Rosine.

However, the Count lusts after Susanna.

In those days, the lord of the manor could claim the feudal right to sleep with his servant's bride on the wedding night, explained Scott.

"The Count wants Susanna as his play thing. And he wants Figaro's bedroom to be nearby."

When Susanna tells Figaro of the Count's amorous intentions, he vows to outwit his master.

Numerous characters, caught up in their own subplots and motives, get swept along in the story -- the betrayed Countess Rosine; a scheming Bartolo and his housekeeper Marcellina; a very hormonal pageboy, Cherubino, in pursuit of the Countess; a gossiping music teacher, Don Basilio; an angry gardener, Antonio, and his silly daughter, Barbarina.

The major plot focuses on the Countess, Susanna and Figaro successfully outwitting the Count.

Scott has pulled together a talented national and Montana cast for this production.

You can expect exceptional singing and elaborate costumes.

The sets will be simple, said Scott, conceding that the symphony realizes "We're not an opera company."

Stage director Basinski has performed with the Indianapolis Opera, the Ohio Light Opera as well with opera companies in Bozeman and Billings. She's sung many soloist performances with a variety of Montana orchestras.

Kevin Mathews, Helena's well known baritone, performs the role of Count Almaviva. He's perhaps best recognized by local audiences for his appearances in "The King and I" and "Urinetown." He's also frequently performs jazz standards at Benny's Bistro.

Baritone Anton Belov is Figaro, and this will be his debut performance in Helena. Winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he was praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer as having "the voice of an emerging star."

Opera News lauded his "great emotional honesty; singing straight from the heart." And the Washington Post wrote of his "voluminous sound, appealing stage presence and a tone of rich vibrancy that remained consistent at all dynamic levels."

Soprano Janeanne Houston, the Countess, performed in Helena previously in the 2006 Messiah. The Seattle Times called one of her performances "radiant voiced."

Saundra De Athos returns to Helena as Susanna. She performed in last season's Messiah. Critics have praised her as "an elegant soprano" and written of her "lustrous and bubbly vocalism."

Other performers include baritone Douglas Nagel as Bartolo, tenor David Cody as Don Basilio and Don Curzio, mezzo-soprano Kimberly Gratland James as Marcellina, mezzo-soprano Cherry Duke as Cherubino, baritone Aaron Pagniano as Antonio, soprano Heather Barnes as Barbarina and the Helena Symphony Chorale.

The audience is in for a richly delicious night of music and a lot of laughter.

"It's a very funny comedy," said Scott.

And Scott hopes the audience feels free to be emotionally swept along by the performance.

"Operas are written for the common person," Scott said. "You're free to cheer, laugh out loud and go crazy. People should be applauding and yelling and cheering or booing."

"That's where the tradition came from to throw flowers on stage."

Scott wants audience members to know, you're permitted -- even encouraged -- to get rowdy.

"People are just too well behaved."

Tickets range from $20 to $50. Students receive a 30 percent discount. Tickets can be purchased at the Symphony Box Office, 48 Hibbard Way, Suite 101, by calling 442-1860 or by ordering online at www.helenasymphony.org.

If you go

Helena Symphony presents its production of the Mozart opera "The Marriage of Figaro"

When: April 18, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Helena Civic Center

Tickets: Prices range from $20 to $50. Students receive a 30 percent discount.

Contact: Tickets can be purchased at the Symphony Box Office, 48 Hibbard Way, Suite 101, by calling 442-1860 or by ordering online at www.helenasymphony.org.