BWW Review: THE SAN DIEGO OPERA'S BARBER OF SEVILLE at Pechanga Sports Arena
by Ron Bierman
- Apr 29, 2021
The San Diego Opera continued its quixotic foray into parking-lot adventures with The Barber of Seville by Rossini, social distancing once again forcing substantial changes to a production's length and cast size. Revisions to libretto, costumes, set and lighting went all out for a zany farcical effect that even many staid opera lovers of a certain age would eventually realize harkened back to the free-wheeling spirit of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in, complete with 'Sock it to me,' chicken jokes and Rowan's trademark closing 'Say goodnight, Dick.' This always said to his seemingly clueless partner Dick Martin. Lest you think it was a radically revised libretto, I offer assurances that most of the explicit references to the bygone TV show were displayed in hand-drawn lettering on cardboard placards held up by a man near the stage whose humble garb included a Santa Clause hat. This seemingly homeless but cheerful gentleman was teamed offstage with a gaggle of other extras. Some of them were chorus members, policemen and musicians usually on stage for Rossini's comic opera, but now, during difficult times, especially for opera directors and stage managers, they were singing, dancing and gesticulating wildly offstage, one of them mounted on a pickup truck.
San Diego Opera Announces Live, Drive-In, Spring Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- Apr 6, 2021
Inspired by the success from their safe drive-in performances of La bohème in the Fall, which heralded the return of live, in-person, opera to San Diego County since the start of the pandemic, San Diego Opera has announced a Spring season of safe, socially-distanced, drive-in performances.
Cincinnati Opera Announces Reimagined 2021 Summer Festival SUMMER AT SUMMIT
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- Mar 31, 2021
Cincinnati Opera will return to the outdoors for its reimagined 2021 Summer Festival, Summer at Summit. The season will take place July 11-31 at Summit Park, located in the heart of Blue Ash, Ohio, and will feature internationally renowned artists, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Cincinnati Opera Announces 2021 SUMMER FESTIVAL
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- Sep 17, 2020
Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, today announced details of the company's 2021 Summer Festival, which is currently scheduled to open June 13 and continue through July 25. The season marks a return to the stage following the cancellation of the company's 100th Anniversary Season due to the pandemic.
Opera Philadelphia Launches Digital Streaming Festival
by Stephi Wild
- Apr 28, 2020
Over the past five years, Opera Philadelphia has presented no fewer than nine world premieres, scoring multiple awards and winning international audience and critical recognition. Now that the 2019-20 season has been cut short by the need for social distancing, the company is extending its season online with Digital Festival O.
San Diego Opera's Main Stage Season Continues With THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
by A.A. Cristi
- Feb 26, 2020
San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 main stage season comes to a close with Gioachino Rossini's classic comedy The Barber of Seville which opens on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances. Additional performances are April 28, May 1, and 3 (matinee), 2020.
BWW Review: MN Opera's Extraordinary THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Entertains with Comedic Delights
by Peggy Sue Dunigan
- Nov 13, 2019
Perhaps as composer Gioachino Rossini believed, at certain times, life might resemble a comic opera. For opera aficionados in the Twin Cities area, MN Opera at the Ordway Center presents a beloved classic by Rossini--The Barber of Seville. In this story about a rapscallion, yet well to do barber named Figaro created by the 18th century playwright known as Beaumarchais, Rossini added a compelling score to Beaumarchais' play to complement Cesare Sterbini's libretto that brings Figaro to operatic life. The fun loving, well loved barber in Seville features into several popular operas to become some of Rossini's favorites MN Opera transforms the already comic opera into a tour de force production by combining extraordinary singing with a sublime cartoon framework in the tradition of the commedia dell'arte, where masks used by the actors often underscore the action.
BWW Feature: Santa Fe Opera Announces 2020 Season
by Zoe Burke
- May 8, 2019
The Santa Fe Opera's General Director Robert K. Meya today announced repertory and casting for the company's exciting 64th Season in 2020. On the panel joining Meya for the announcement were the President of the Board of Directors Susan G. Marineau, Andrea Fellows Walters, Director of Community Engagement, and Cori Ellison, the company's first, recently appointed Dramaturg.
POP's Josh Shaw Takes On 'Barber' For Opera Santa Barbara
by A.A. Cristi
- Feb 9, 2018
Gioachino Rossini's laugh-out-loud romantic comedy returns to Opera Santa Barbara for the first time since 2001. The Barber of Seville has been entertaining audiences for more than 200 years with its outrageous stage antics and vocal acrobatics. Featuring some of opera's most recognizable tunes, audiences are sure to leave the theater singing Figaro, Figaro, Fiiiiiii-garo!
Come Play at Seattle Opera's FAMILY DAY
by A.A. Cristi
- Sep 23, 2017
Start Halloween early by joining Seattle Opera for its Family Day presentation of The Barber of Seville. Everyone is invited to come in their costume for this Oct. 22 performance, where students age 18 and under get $15 tickets for almost any seat.* During intermission, see how many hair-raising styles you and your family can imagine. We'll get creative with arts and crafts as we draw, color, and cut out silly hairstyles!
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