It is the first play of a trilogy
that includes La folle journÈe ou Le mariage de Figaro, which was made
into the opera Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart, and La mËre
coupable, which was set by Corigliano as The Ghosts of
Versailles. Over the years, various composers of operas and singspiels
have used it as the basis of their compositions. Ludwig Benda and Johann AndrÈ
wrote music to it in 1776. Johann Elsperger based a singspiel on it in 1780.
Composer Giovanni Paisiello and librettist Giuseppe Petrosellini made Le
barbier into an opera and it appeared first in Russian translation at the
imperial court of St. Petersburg in 1782.
In 1783, The Barber’s story appeared as Die unn¸tzige
Vorsicht, a translation of the subtitle, The Useless Precaution.
In 1794, The Spanish Barber by British born composer Alexander
Reinagle was sung across the ocean in the brand new United States. It is said
to have been a favorite of George Washington. In 1796, Nicolas Isouard, an
organist from Malta who had moved to Paris to compose, set the story to music
and it was presented at the OpÈra Comique. When Rossini and librettist Cesare
Sterbini chose that story and premiered their opera in 1816, Paisiello’s
fans heckled the performance. At the second performance, however, the audience
realized that Rossini’s version was well worth hearing, and from then on
it became at least as popular as Paisiello’s work, which was also played
for many years.
On April 24, Arizona Opera presented the last opera of its 2009-2010 season,
a rousing rendition of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of
Seville, at Phoenix Symphony Hall. The traditional production was by
Bernard Uzan with detailed and functional sets by David Gano. The costumes by
Anna Bjornsdotter were flattering to the artists as well as correct for the
time and place. With Artistic Director Joel Revzen in the pit with the
excellent Arizona Opera Orchestra, everything was ready for a fine performance.
The overture was played with clarity and translucence. It seemed that the
players could go as fast as the wind and still play each note precisely.
Unfortunately, after the overture, and while the tenor was singing his most
difficult first aria, ushers allowed latecomers into the hall and accompanied
them with flashlight beams and whispers.
Tall, good-looking Brian Stucki is a wonderful new coloratura tenor who can
sing the most graceful lines of Almaviva’s music in correct style. A good
actor, he has all the essentials for comedic timing. As Rosina, Elizabeth
DeShong sang with honeyed tones and quite a powerful voice. She also let the
audience know from the beginning that she was not about to submissively obey
her guardian, Dr Bartolo.
Elizabeth DeShong as Rosina, Peter Strummer as Bartolo and Joshua Hopkins as Figaro
This was Joshua Hopkins’s first Figaro, but no one would have known it
from his performance. He was an authoritative barber who sang with robust
sounds and had both vocal and stage tricks up his sleeve. Bass-baritone Peter
Strummer was thoroughly amusing as the self-righteous Dr Bartolo. His slow
tones had polish. His patter was understandable and secure. As the
conspiratorial Don Basilio, Kurt Link did not wear the traditional hat, but he
was a great comic villain whose voice was redolent with colorful deep tones.
Grace Brooks was a Berta who thought both Dr Bartolo and Rosina were crazy.
She is still in the AZ Opera Young Artist Program, but she is fast becoming a
finished singer and her aria was a delight to hear. Although John Fulton did
not have an aria, he portrayed both Fiorello and the Sergeant with thoughtful
consideration of their situations.
The all male chorus led by Julian Reed sang with gusto and harmonized
accurately. Reed also played the beautifully modulated recitatives on the
harpsichord. This was a hilariously funny show and the laughter almost drowned
out some of the music, but the Barber is a true comedy and it was good
to see it so well appreciated by the Arizona audience.
Maria Nockin
image=http://www.operatoday.com/AZ_Barber_1%283%29.gif
image_description=Brian Stucki as Almaviva and Elizabeth DeShong as Rosina [Photo by Tim Fuller / Arizona Opera]
product=yes
product_title=Gioachino Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
product_by=Figaro: Marian Pop (April 23, 25, May 2)/Joshua Hopkins (April 24, May 1); Rosina: Patricia Risley (April 23, 25, May 2)/Elizabeth DeShong (April 24, May 1); Almaviva: Victor Ryan Robertson (April 23, 25, May 2)/Brian Stucki (April 24, May 1); Bartolo: Peter Strummer; Basilio: Kurt Link; Fiorello: John Fulton; Sergeant: John Fulton; Berta: Grace Brooks; Notary: Cameron Schutza. Arizona Opera. Conductor: Joel Revzen. Director: Bernard Uzan.
product_id=Above: Brian Stucki as Almaviva and Elizabeth DeShong as Rosina [Photos Tim Fuller / Arizona Opera]