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EL PASO - Figaro, Figaro...

You will want to say "I do" when "The Marriage of Figaro" takes the stage at Magoffin Auditorium next week... and internationally acclaimed, Emmy award-winning opera star Michael Chioldi says "buongiorno" to the Sun City.

"The greatest thing about this town is the people. Everyone is so warm and so generous and so loving. They look you in the eye and they say 'hi, how are you?' And coming from New York City, I'm not quite used to that," said Chioldi.

Chioldi will lend his boisterous baritone to an all-star cast in El Paso Opera's production of "The Marriage of Figaro."

"I've done now 172 performances of 'The Marriage of Figaro' and it is one of my all time favorite operas," said Chioldi.

Chioldi says audiences can "count" on him to deliver a powerful performance as "the Count"... who develops a wandering eye when his marriage to "the Countess" turns cold in this story of old and new love.
"The Count" gets busted while attempting to seduce Figaro's fiancee, Susannah.

"They switch costumes in one part and I think I'm wooing Susannah and it ends up being the Countess. Then everyone from the court comes in and they catch me. And in one of the most beautiful moments of the opera, I kneel down and I say 'Contessa, please forgive me,'" explained Chioldi.

Chioldi sings this opera's praises... a tale of love, truth and forgiveness.

"From the downbeat to the very end it's just a swirling, whirling twirl of twists and intrigue and mistaken identities and it's hysterical," said Chioldi.

Chioldi once shared the stage with Luciano Pavarotti... in his debut at the Metropolitan Opera.
You can catch Chioldi in "The Marriage of Figaro" March 15th, 17th and 18th at UTEP's Magoffin Auditorium.

Tickets cost $20 and up at any Ticketmaster location.