Photo Flash: 'The Barber of Seville' at Opera Pacific

Opera Pacific’s 2008-2009 main stage season at Segerstrom Hall of the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, opens with Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, which performs October 22 - November 1, 2008.  This is Opera Pacific’s first main stage offering of The Barber of Seville since 1996. 
 
Artistic Director, John DeMain said, “The Barber of Seville is Rossini’s comic masterpiece with a musical score that literally bubbles and tingles like a fine champagne.”  The Barber of Seville sparkles with wit and exhilarating comedy. Led by Figaro, opera’s favorite barber, this hilarious tale of love triumphing against all odds ranks not only as the most popular opera buffa (or comic opera), but also as one of the most popular operas of all time. Rossini’s melodious score is one of the best-known in all of opera, including Figaro's celebrated “Largo al factotum,” Rosina's “Una voce poco fa” and the duet they have together, “Dunque io son.” This new production from Opera Pacific promises to bring out all of the humor and joy of Rossini’s brilliant score.  Director A. Scott Parry returns to the company after his triumphant directing debut in Opera Pacific’s 2007 production of The Elixir of Love, and John DeMain conducts.

The Opera Pacific Prologue on The Barber of Seville will be held in conjunction with the 2008-2009 Season Preview at Bowers Museum on October 5th at 3:30 pm. Opera Pacific’s Prologues and Season Preview provide an introduction to the opera for all audiences and are designed to provide information for those new to opera, as well as those who have been lifelong fans of the art form.  Prologue speaker Ron Shaheen lends his insight into the history, music and plot intricacies as

Celebrating its 23rd Season, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's main stage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for all of Southern California. More than 670,000 people have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.

Tickets for Opera Pacific’s The Barber of Seville are priced from $30 to $200 and are available by calling 1-800-34-OPERA (1-800-346-7372), online at www.operapacific.org or by visiting the Orange County Performing Arts Center Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For information, go to www.operapacific.org.  For groups, call (714) 830-6361.
 
The Barber of Seville will be sung in Italian with English translation projected above the stage.

Jeremy Kelly as Figaro

Jennifer Rivera as Rosina

Jeremy Kelly as Figaro and Brian Stucki as Count Almaviva