Sydney Opera House © NSWSydney Tourism Australia / Jonathon-Marks The Barber of Seville at Sydney Opera
Sydney, Sydney Opera House — Joan Sutherland Theatre
About the Event
Immerse yourself in the stunning architecture of Sydney's breathtaking Sydney Opera House for the ultimate concert set to awake your understanding of opera.
Beyond haircuts and beard trims, this canny barber is the city’s matchmaking maestro! Almaviva is wealthy, stealthy and head over heels. Rosina is witty, pretty and just as smitten. She’s also inconveniently betrothed. They need a plan. Time to call on: Fi‐ga‐ro! Figaro! Figaro!
Enter the friendly neighbourhood barber with wits and tricks as sharp as his razors. He sets to work to unite the young lovers in an evening of disguises and duplicity.
This rollicking, laugh‐out‐loud comedy took a young Rossini just 13 days to write. Playful energy sparkles through as many famous tunes as you can pack into two‐and‐a-half hours.
A cast of great voices and high spirits play among a marvelous set of cartoonish proportions – a world inspired by 1920s silent films, featuring a life‐size doll’s house as its centerpiece. Celebrated Australian baritone Samuel Dale Johnson returns home to make his Opera Australia debut as the titular barber. Audience favorites John Longmuir and Shanul Sharma share the role of Count Almaviva. Italian mezzo soprano Serena Malfi and Helen Sherman both play Rosina.
Practical Information
Performed in Italian with English surtitles
Program
- Gioachino Rossini – The Barber of Seville
Cast / Production
CONDUCTOR
Daniel Smith (18 Jan–22 Feb)
Tahu Matheson (24–28 Feb)
DIRECTOR
Elijah Moshinsky
SET DESIGNER
Michael Yeargan
COSTUME DESIGNER
Dona Granata
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Howard Harrison
REVIVAL DIRECTOR
Heather Fairbairn
FIGARO
Samuel Dale Johnson
ROSINA
Serena Malfi (18 Jan–13 Feb)
Helen Sherman (15–28 Feb)
COUNT ALMAVIVA
John Longmuir (18 Jan–13 Feb)
Shanul Sharma (15–28 Feb)
DR BARTOLO
Andrew Moran
DON BASILIO
David Parkin
BERTA
Jane Ede
FIORELLO/AMBROGIO/NOTARY
Simon Meadows
Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House hosts performances from many genres in Sydney, Australia. One of the 20th Century's most famous and distinctive structures, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon as a multiple performance venue. The complex hosts more than 1.2 million people annually with a season of 1,500 performances. Performers include international and local guest artists, and three resident companies: the Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Australia, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Gioachino Rossini
Gioachino Rossini was an Italian composer of the 19th century. He made his debut at the age of 18 and soon became one the most popular opera composer in history. His best known operas are The Barber of Seville (Il barbiere di Siviglia), The Italian Girl in Algiers (L'italiana in Algeri), and Cinderella (La Cenerentola). In general, his style can be defined as song-like melodic which earned him the nickname of "the Italian Mozart”. Later on he became famous for his exciting buildup of orchestral sound over a repeated phrase, which is now known as a "Rossini crescendo”.
Address
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, Australia — Google Maps
