Il Barbiere di Siviglia

  • 2012/2013 Season
  • Gioachino Rossini : Il Barbiere di Siviglia
    Opera in 2 Acts
    Sung in Italian with Japanese Supertitles
  • OPERA HOUSE

This classic work has become part of the NNTT Opera repertory, and is one that belongs in the repertory of any opera house. This opera buffa (comic opera), the best known work of 19th century composer Gioachino Rossini, has had an enormous influence on the composers who came since. What's more, it is one that audiences can just sit back, watch and enjoy. For the singers and instrumentalists, on the other hand, it is quite difficult. Even within the realm of Italian opera, this one is uniquely challenging in terms of the number of rapid passages and its demand for light articulation. The Barber of Seville features an overture that is perhaps as well known as that of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, but the main program is also brimming with exquisite music that is sure to delight audiences. This production was directed by Josef E. Köpplinger. The setting has been shifted to the 1960s, in the Spain under Franco's dictatorship. The production is fast-paced and comical, and was greeted with standing ovations at the time of its premiere in 2005. Conductor Carlo Montanaro will make his second appearance at the NNTT, after his well-received performance in the 2009 production of Madama Butterfly. The cast will feature a balanced mix of younger and more veteran performers. With each repeat production, the pieces of the NNTT Opera repertory take on added dimension as they become valuable assets of the NNTT legacy.

SYNOPSIS

The setting is Seville, Spain under the Franco regime. Count Almaviva, a young dandy, falls in love at first sight with Rosina, the most beautiful girl in town. But he cannot easily approach her because her guardian, Dr. Bartolo, who is infatuated with her for her wealth, interferes with his courtship. So he seeks Figaro's help. Figaro is a barber and general factotum, who, if paid, undertakes everything from hairdressing to consultation about others'personal affairs, to acting as an intermediary for lovers, and as a hired scribe. The count tries every trick to sneak into Dr. Bartolo's house and successfully conveys his feelings to Rosina but gives rise to great confusion. Thanks to Figaro's quick wit, he manages to ride out a crisis, and after much ado, the opera comes to a happy ending.

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