Sunday, November 23, 1 p.m., Orcas Center
— from Artha Kass, Orcas Center —
The Met’s effervescent production of Rossini’s classic comedy Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)featuring some of the most instantly recognizable melodies in all of opera, streams live to Orcas Center on Sunday, November 23 at 1:00 pm. The overture and the baritone aria “Largo al factotum” have been featured in cartoons starring Tom and Jerry, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and many others.
With a dynamic young cast, this acclaimed production by Bartlett Sher stars Isabel Leonard as Rosina, the feisty ward who capture the heart of the love struck Lawrence Brownlee as Count Almaviva.
Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, like Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, also sources from Beaumarchais’s Figaro Trilogy of plays — Barbiere being the prequel to Mozart’s opera. The two operas share common characters: the Barber Figaro of Rossini’s title will be the one married in Mozart’s opera; the feisty Rosina of Rossini’s opera will become the long-suffering countess of Mozart’s opera; and the romantic Count Almaviva of Rossini’s opera will become the jealous Count of Mozart’s opera. Isabel Leonard appears in both HD transmissions this season, though in different roles.
“Rossini’s effervescent music, an energetic cast and Michael Yeargan’s spinning set pieces provide the animation. Quirky staging flourishes… including a live donkey and an oversize anvil that descends to crush a pumpkin cart, were decided assets. ” —The New York Times
“Isabel Leonard was a knockout as Rosina. Alternately coquettish and cunning, she has a smile that could twist any man around her finger.” —Huffington Post
Tickets for The Met: Live in HD Il Barbiere di Siviglia are $18, $13 students $2 off for Orcas Center members and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday – Friday from noon – 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.
