“I congratulate you. It will be played as long as Italian opera exists.”
– Beethoven to Rossini, after The Barber of Seville premiered
1. It's funny.
2. "Figaro! Figarofigarofigarofigaro FI-GA-RO!" You've heard everyone from Robin Williams to Sylvester the Cat sing this iconic operatic line. Come hear the rest of it.
3. Find out what makes an opera a classic. Based on a hit 1775 play by Pierre Beaumarchais, The Barber of Seville had been turned into several operas before the 23 year-old Rossini wrote his version in 1816. Despite a disastrous opening night (a cat wandering onstage was involved), it quickly became a massive hit, performed worldwide for the next two centuries.
4. It's a rom-com. Barber is the story of a clever barber named Figaro using his grab-bag of tricks to bring together a young couple. Disguises, secret missives, and some light theft – not to mention a well-timed shave – result in happily-ever-after.
5. It stars a dynamic cast of artists returning to Madison Opera: Benjamin Taylor (Pagliacci) as Figaro; Keely Futterer (The Anonymous Lover) as Rosina; David Walton (The Abduction from the Seraglio) as Count Almaviva; Levi Hernandez (Florencia en el Amazonas) as Dr. Bartolo; Alex Taylor (The Seven Deadly Sins) as Don Basilio; and Hailey Cohen (Candide) as Berta. Studio Artists Lifan Deng and Ryan Nash make their debuts.
6. “The point is, a person feels good listening to Rossini.” – Thomas Pynchon’s novel Gravity’s Rainbow
7. Give yourself a break from the everyday and escape for a few hours into a world of comedy, romance, and joyful music.
8. The "Rossini rocket." Rossini’s score dazzles with its vocal fireworks; his finales have something called a “Rossini rocket,” in which things just take off. It’s thrilling stuff, trust us.
9. This is Madison Opera’s first production of Barber in ten years, and you only have two chances to see it. Don’t miss out!
10. Tickets start at only $20, making this an affordable way to lose yourself in one of the most beloved operas of all time.
Did we mention that it's funny?
PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY!
Published on October 23, 2024
