Performed in Italian (with synchronised Russian supertitles)
The performance has 1 intermission
Running time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Rossini’s sparkling comedy Il barbiere di Siviglia comes to life on the stage of the magnificent Mikhailovsky Theatre, a beautifully preserved 18th-century gem in the heart of St. Petersburg. Performed by accomplished opera artists who received their training at the same prestigious Russian conservatories as many Mariinsky Theatre performers, this lively production blends brilliant vocal technique, irresistible humor, and timeless elegance.
One of the most popular operas in the world whose joyous melodies are instantly recognizable, it has been an indispensable fixture in the Mikhailovsky’s repertoire since 1918, when the Theatre’s own opera company was founded. Swiss director Éric Vigié has created his own unique production of this opera, harking back to a time when opera was not yet seen as the domain of the elites, but was designed to appeal to the most varied audiences. Colourful and heady, Seville is a true Southern city an incomparable microcosm of Spain as a whole. The crowd scenes are filled with footballers, pop stars, flamenco dancers, guitarists and even... a monkey, a donkey, and a ‘little blue dog’. This operatic scherzo — bright, elegant, and unfettered by the traditional canon — is guaranteed to leave audiences in the very best of spirits.
Synopsis
Scene 1 A street in Seville. Count Almaviva is singing a serenade
at the house of Doctor Bartolo. Barber Figaro — a local musician and merry
fellow — appears. Almaviva learns from Figaro that Rosina isn’t Doctor’s
Bartolo’s real daughter. She is his foster daughter and he is going to marry
her. Almaviva asks Figaro to help him to get into the house. Figaro ad vises
Almaviva to disguise himself as a soldier who came to the elector to quarter.
Scene 2 Doctor Bartolo’s drawing room. Rosina is in love with
a young man Lindor — as Almaviva introduced himself—and she is writing a love
letter. Don Basilio — Rosina’s teacher of music — comes. Doctor Bartolo asks his
advice: how to win Rosina’s favour. Don Basilio warns Bartolo: Count Almaviva is
in town and in love with Rosina. He advise Bartolo to resort to slander. In his
opinion slander is the only weapon in a fight with the rival. Bartolo
willingly accepts his plan and takes him away to discuss how to put the plan
into action. Figaro appears. Rosina asks him to give her letter to Lindor
-Almaviva. Suddenly a drunken soldier enters the house and demands a room for
quartering. On hearing the noise the guards rush into the house. At Bartolo’s
and Basilio’s request the commander of the guards wants to arrest the drunken
soldier, but on checking his papers he bows respectfully. Everybody is amazed.
Nobody understands what is happening.
Scene 3 Almaviva comes
into Bartolo’s house again. This time he disguises himself as a music teacher
sent to substitute Basilio who is allegedly ill. At the lesson of music Lindor -
Almaviva declares his love to Rosina. Basilio appears. Almaviva slips a purse
into Basilio’s hand to make him go away. The lesson goes on. Bartolo, who
notices the young people declare their love to each other, understands that he
was made a fool. Bartolo turns everybody out of the house.
Scene
4 A heavy storm overtakes Bartolo. At this time Almaviva and Figaro get
into his house. Count Almaviva wants to take Rosina away. However, Bartolo
persuades the girl that Lindor is a deceiver, Rosina breaks her word to be his
wife. Then Almaviva reveals his real name. Basilio, commissioned by Bartolo,
brings a notary to contract a marriage between the doctor and Rosina. Taking
advantage of Bartolo’s absence, Almaviva bribes Basilio and makes him sign the
marriage contract made by the notary. Bartolo rushes in, but he has no choice
but to consent to their marriage.
Gioachino Rossini "Il barbiere di Siviglia" (opera buffa in two acts) on the playbill
