Rossini's Comic Masterpiece, The Barber of Seville
Sunday January 28, 2007, 7:00 pm
In a concert opera performance with English surtitles
The Newton Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Jeffrey Rink, continues its 2006-2007 season with a semi-staged performance of Giaocchino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia on January 28, 2007 at 7:00 pm at the Rashi Auditorium in Newton Corner.
Newton Symphony Orchestra opera performances have consistently received high critical acclaim, and the productions continue to grow in complexity, with the addition of staging, and a projected simultaneous translation, (supertitles). Following the success of last year’s comic opera, Don Pasquale, the Newton Symphony now offers Rossini's most famous comic opera, The Barber of Seville. Written in 1815, this opera remains the benchmark for comic opera.
Il Barbiere di Siviglia is set in late 18th century Seville. In a quick witted farce of young love, with great zest for life, the beautiful Rosina and the dashing Count Almaviva outwit Rosina’s guardian, Dr. Bartolo who has been keeping her prisoner in his house, hoping to secure her fortune by marrying her. With the help of Figaro, factotum and barber of Seville, and with some temporary identity theft, trickery and bribery, Rosina and the Count succeed in getting married, right in Bartolo’s house! Discovering too late that he has been outwitted, Bartolo is only mollified when Almaviva lets him keep Rosina’s dowry.
The Cast
Leah Wool as Rosina, David Murray as Figaro, Adam Kirkpatrick as Il Conte Almaviva, Graham Wright as Dr Bartolo, David Cushing as Don Basilio, Valerie Arboit as Berta and Matthew Moore as Fiorello. Stage direction is by San Francisco Conservatory’s Richard Harrell. The principals and orchestra will be joined by the women of Chorus pro Musica, and men from Boston University’s Opera Institute.
Performance Details
The performance will take place at the Rashi Auditorium, 15 Walnut Park, Newton Corner, on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $45 for orchestra seats and $35 for mezzanine seats; with a $5 discount for students, seniors and groups of ten or more. Children under 12 get in for $10. A free pre-concert lecture, by Steven Ledbetter, is offered at 6:00pm. A post-concert reception provides the audience with an opportunity to meet the conductor, soloists, chorus and orchestra.
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the office on 617-965-2555.
Opera Benefit Soir�e
Let the soaring voices of leads Lea Wool (Rosina) and Adam Kirkpatrick (Count Almaviva) delight you with arias from the opera. Enjoy art and music, and have a glass of wine and delicious hors d’oeuvres, all in support of the Newton Symphony Orchestra. A donation of $45 per person is suggested in support of the NSO’s concert opera program. This event is being held at a private home, so space is limited.
RSVP: 617-965-2555