”Musical comedy on a level one seldom encounters”
”At the Göteborg Opera the vocal performances are excellent”
— Expressen
”An eclectic production which makes references to both the macarena and Abba.”
”Well-choreographed, intense, fast-paced”
— Göteborgs-Posten
Il barbiere di Siviglia is a joyous opera that, thanks to its musical elegance, has remained popular for over 200 years.
The light-hearted plot concerns a love triangle in which the barber Figaro, here performed by young baritone Hannes Öberg, plays cupid, ensuring that the love between the young Count Almaviva and Rosina can blossom, while the old and self-righteous are left to lick their wounds. It is also the story of someone trapped within the four walls of their home nursing a resolute desire to escape and enjoy life to the full, something we can all relate to after the events of the past year.
Director is Rodula Gaitanou, who received outstanding reviews for her production of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos at the Göteborg Opera in 2018. The production has a scaled-down scenography. Minimalism and maximalism go hand in hand as Gaitanou and her team will create a fast-paced, colourful and entertaining production packed with musical and pop-culture references.
The lovelorn Count Almaviva is sung by Greek tenor Vassilis Kavayas, possessor of the virtuosity demanded to shine in Rossini’s operas. Rosina’s coloraturas are performed by Ann-Kristin Jones, while her cantankerous guardian Dr Bartolo is sung by Markus Schwartz.
