ROSSINI: The Barber of Seville
Count Almaviva enlists the aid of Seville’s beloved barber Figaro, in his attempts to woo the spunky Rosina in Rossini’s delightful farce. Based on the play by Beaumarchais, The Barber of Seville is the prequel to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. The opera has all the right ingredients for comic chaos: an imprisoned young woman, her lecherous guardian and a young noble suitor. Skilfully plotting behind the scenes is Figaro – an irrepressible and inventive character in whom many have seen a resemblance to the young Rossini himself. The score fizzes with musical brilliance, from Figaro’s famous entrance aria ‘Largo al factotum’ to the frenzy of the Act I finale, when the five principal voices all pile on top of each other.
Figaro.......................... Vito Priante
Count Almaviva.......... Javier Camarena
Rosina.......................... Daniela Mack
Berta............................ Madeleine Pierard
Doctor Bartolo............ José Fardilha
Don Basilio................. Ferruccio Furlanetto
Notary.......................... Andrew MacNair
Ambrogio.................... Jonathan Coad
Fiorello........................ Gyula Nagy
Officer......................... Donaldson Bell
Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Henrik Nánási (EBU)