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© Photo: Ennevi | Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona -
© Photo: Ennevi | Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona -
Il Barbiere di Siviglia, © Photo: Ennevi | Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona -
Arena di Verona, © Photo: Ennevi | Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona
Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2024
Verona, Arena di Verona
About the Event
Surrender to the charms of an evening in a Spanish garden, as the Arena di Verona is transformed by Hugo de Ana's staging of Rossini's sparkling comic opera.
Join Rosina and Almaviva, Doctor Bartolo and the city's omnipresent general factotum — the irrepressible Figaro — amidst the oversize roses for tricks and disguises, plots and plans, and Rossini's scintillating score!
'The Barber of Seville is an opera buffa in two acts composed by Rossini in 1813. The libretto, by Cesare Sterbini, was based on the French comedy “Le Barbier de Seville” (1775) by Beaumarchais. Count Almaviva, a rich young Spanish nobleman, falls in love with Rosina, a young, but not entirely‐defenseless orphan. Rosina's elderly guardian is determined to marry her, but with the help of the cunning barber. Figaro, young love prevails!
Act 1
Count Almaviva is in love with Rosina, the ward of Dr.Bartolo. He pretends to be the poor student ''Lindoro'' as he serenades his beloved.
Figaro, formerly the Count's servant and now a barber in Seville, arrives to tell the Count that Bartolo plans to marry Rosina for her inheritance. Rosina appears on the balcony with a note for the handsome young man who has been serenading her.
Bartolo is suspicious of his ward’s furtive behavior, and determined to expedite his marriage plans. Leaving instructions that no one may enter the house, Bartolo hurries off to organise the wedding. Figaro promises that he can get Almaviva into the house, disguised as a soldier seeking lodging, for a certain sum, of course.
Rosina is determined to marry Lindoro. Figaro tells Rosina that Lindoro is his cousin and is deeply in love with her. Rosina is delighted, and gives him her note to deliver to the supposed Lindoro.
The Count arrives in military dress, only to discover that Dr. Bartolo is exempt from housing soldiers. Almaviva slips Rosina a note, which Bartolo spots, but Rosina quickly substitutes the laundry list. The noise from the ensuing uproar attracts the police, and the Count is forced to discreetly reveal his identity to an officer to avoid arrest.
Act 2
Count Almaviva enters Bartolo’s house again, this time in the guise of Don Alonso, a music teacher. Bartolo falls asleep during the lesson and the Count and Rosina are able to confess their mutual love. Rosina and the Count arrange to elope, but Bartolo catches the lovers out, and the Count and Figaro must flee.
Bartolo convinces Rosina that the Count intended to seduce and then betray her. Furious, Rosina reveals the plan, and agrees to marry Bartolo, who rushes off to fetch the police.
Figaro and Almaviva appear and Rosina confronts her lover. Almaviva reveals his true identity, but the couple’s reconciliation is cut short when the notary that Bartolo requested appears. Figaro persuades the notary to marry Almaviva and Rosina instead. Bartolo returns too late and, left with no choice, blesses the marriage.
Practical Information
Included are:
- Ticket to the opera performance in the chosen category
- One month's free access to a premium classical music streaming service
- self‐guided audio tour of Verona in English
Program
- Gioachino Rossini – The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
Cast / Production
DIRECTION, SET DESIGN, COSTUMES, LIGHTING DESIGN Hugo De Ana
CHOREOGRAPHY Leda Lojodice
CONDUCTOR George Petrou
IL CONTE D’ALMAVIVA
René Barbera 21, 27 June
Dmitry Korchak 6, 12 July
Lawrence Brownlee 24, 31 August, 6 September
BARTOLO
Paolo Bordogna 21, 27 June
Misha Kiria 6, 12 July
Carlo Lepore 24, 31 August, 6 September
ROSINA
Vasilisa Berzhanskaya 21, 27 June, 6, 12 July
Jessica Pratt 24, 31 August, 6 September
FIGARO
Mattia Olivieri 21, 27 June
Nicola Alaimo 6, 12 July
Davide Luciano 24, 31 August, 6 September
BASILIO
Roberto Tagliavini 21, 27 June
Alexander Vinogradov 6, 12 July, 24, 31 August, 6 September
BERTA
Marianna Mappa 21, 27 June, 6, 12 July, 24, 31 August, 6 September
FIORELLO/AMBROGIO
Nicolò Ceriani21, 27 June, 6, 12 July, 24, 31 August, 6 September
UN UFFICIALE
Domenico Apollonio 21, 27 June, 6, 12 July, 24, 31 August, 6 September
Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is the third largest Roman amphitheatre still standing. Built around 30 AD, the Arena is also among the best-preserved amphitheatres of the period. Its gigantic dimensions (140 meters long and 100 meters wide), and seating for over 30,000 spectators, ensure it dominates the northern part of Piazza Bra. Excellent acoustics and a fabulous location make it an ideal venue for large-scale opera performances. The monument was re-established as a theatre during the Renaissance, and in 1913 the tradition of opera at the Arena di Verona began with a production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Aida'.
Gioachino Rossini
Gioachino Rossini was an Italian composer of the 19th century. He made his debut at the age of 18 and soon became one the most popular opera composer in history. His best known operas are The Barber of Seville (Il barbiere di Siviglia), The Italian Girl in Algiers (L'italiana in Algeri), and Cinderella (La Cenerentola). In general, his style can be defined as song-like melodic which earned him the nickname of "the Italian Mozart”. Later on he became famous for his exciting buildup of orchestral sound over a repeated phrase, which is now known as a "Rossini crescendo”.
Address
Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra 28, Verona, Italy — Google Maps
