The Palau de les Arts hosts rehearsals for Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia
24.02.2013
The Italian baritone Mario Cassi (Figaro), the Valencian soprano Silvia Vázquez (Rosina) and the Uruguayan tenor Edgardo Rocha (Count Almaviva) head the cast
Valencia. The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía is currently hosting the final rehearsals for Il barbiere di Siviglia by Gioachino Rossini, which premieres next Thursday, February 28.
Omer Meir Wellber assumes the musical direction of this work, his first Rossini in Valencia, which is presented in a staging by Damiano Michieletto for the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
With this title, Michieletto signs his fourth production at the Palau de les Arts after La scala di seta , L'italiana in Algeri , both by Rossini, and L'elisir d'amore , by Donizetti.
The Venetian director offers a fresh and dynamic vision of the opera by the composer from Pesaro, set in 1980s Seville. The staging, with nods to the cinematography of Pedro Almodóvar, features set design by Paolo Fantin, recreating a chaotic suburban neighborhood, kitsch costumes by Silvia Aymonino, and lighting by Fabio Barettin.
Mario Cassi plays Figaro, the barber and former servant of Count Almaviva, whom he helps in his quest to win the heart of the young Rosina. The Italian baritone, who has already sung at the Palau de les Arts in Rossini's La Cenerentola , has worked with renowned conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Daniel Harding, Riccardo Muti, and Andris Nelsons. Winner of the Operalia-Plácido Domingo competition in 2003, he has performed in Milan, Paris, Rome, and Salzburg.
Silvia Vázquez, from Valencia, embodies Rosina. The soprano from Puerto de Sagunto returns to the Palau de les Arts with Il barbiere di Siviglia after her roles in La Bruja , L'enfant et les sortilegès , Carmen , Der Ring des Nibelungen , Parsifal , L'arbore di Diana and 1984 .
Edgardo Rocha sings the role of Count Almaviva, which he debuted in December 2012 at the Vienna State Opera. The rising Uruguayan tenor, who is developing a promising career in the Rossini repertoire, has worked with the opera companies of Bari, Seattle, Turin, and Zurich.
Basses Paata Burchuladze and Orlin Anastassov alternate in the role of Basilio. The Georgian singer presents his third role at the Palau de les Arts after his appearances in Boris Godunov and Rigoletto . Burchuladze will sing on February 28 and March 3, 6, and 9. Bulgarian Orlin Anastassov, known to Valencian audiences for his performances in Simon Boccanegra , Don Carlo , Luisa Miller , and Boris Godunov , will sing the role of Rosina's music teacher on March 12 and 15.
The Italian baritone Marco Camastra (Bartolo), the Valencian mezzo-soprano Marina Rodríguez-Cusì (Berta) and the Center de Perfectionament singer Plácido Domingo Mattia Olivieri (Fiorello) complete the cast of this production.
Rossini's most popular opera
In 1775 Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais premiered in Paris Le barbier de Séville ou La précaution inutile , with which the French playwright would begin his famous 'Figaro trilogy'.
The comedy quickly inspired several composers of the time, including Giovanni Paisiello, who premiered his eponymous opera with remarkable success in St. Petersburg in 1782.
Three decades later, the young Gioachino Rossini used the same work as a reference for a commission from the Teatro Argentina in Rome. Cesare Sterbini wrote the libretto in eleven days; the composer from Pesaro needed only three weeks to set it to music. On February 20, 1816, the work premiered under the title Almaviva ossia l'inutile precauzione in order to avoid any accusations of plagiarism against Paisiello.
Despite the fact that Rossini's opera had a rocky premiere, subsequent performances consolidated the success of the Pesaro native over Paisiello, making this Barbiere his most appreciated and performed opera.
