Dutch National Opera presents
Figaro, figaro, fígáró...
Rossini's lively and beloved opera classic Il barbiere di Siviglia is presented in a new staging by Lotte de Beer.
Comical complications
The story of Il barbiere di Siviglia centres around the beautiful Rosina. Count Almaviva is in love with her, and she returns his affections, but her guardian Bartolo wants to marry her himself and get his hands on her large dowry. Following a series of comical complications, the libretto brings the lovers together with some help from the clever Figaro. Of course, as we know from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, what comes after isn’t all sunshine and roses...
Rossini and the French Revolution
Though Rossini was conservative by nature, the play by Beaumarchais on which he based his Il barbiere di Siviglia was deeply imbued with the spirit of the French Revolution. The hectic rhythm of the large ensembles evokes the turbulence of a nation on the brink of revolt, and the characters never have a moment’s peace. Yet what most inspired Rossini was the story’s comic dimensions.
Lotte de Beer
Lotte de Beer has previously directed Ringetje, Waiting for Miss Monroe, Hänsel und Gretel and The New Prince at Dutch National Opera, and has been enthusiastically received at the Operadagen Rotterdam, Grachtenfestival and Opera Forward Festival. The Dutch director’s production of Puccini’s Il Trittico at the Bayerische Staatsoper in late 2017 was a triumph and catapulted her into the top ranks of international opera.
For Il barbiere di Siviglia, De Beer is collaborating with designers Julian Crouch (set and costumes) and Alex Brok (lighting). The choreography is by Zack Winokur (The New Prince). The conductor is Maurizio Benini (Il trovatore), a regular guest at the leading opera houses in New York, Paris, Vienna, London, Barcelona and Madrid. Ambrogio Maestri (acclaimed in the title role of Falstaff) is Bartolo, and Rosina is sung by Nino Machaidze (Il Viaggio a Reims).
Julian Crouch – set and costumes
Julian Crouch is a director and writer and also designs for the stage, opera, ballet, film and television. Well-known productions include Satyagraha (New York), Jerry Springer: The Opera, the Broadway musical of The Addams Family (Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award) and The Enchanted Island. His design for Dutch National Ballet’s 2014 production of Cinderella was lauded for its effortless fusion of historical and contemporary styles, blending Victorian fashion with haute couture à la Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.
Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
Along with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra has been the regular orchestra partner of Dutch National Opera for over 30 years, and is internationally regarded as one of the best opera orchestras. Each season, the two orchestras perform the majority of the opera productions in Dutch National Opera & Ballet. The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra gives a varied programme of concerts in the Concertgebouw and also performs at other major concert halls and festivals in the Netherlands and abroad.
Team, Cast and Chorus
- Musical Director
- Maurizio Benini
- Stage Director
- Lotte de Beer
- Set and costumes
- Julian Crouch
- Light
- Alex Brok
- Choreography
- Zack Winokur
- Dramaturgy
- Peter te Nuyl
- Orchestra
- Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
- Chorus
- Chorus of Dutch National Opera
- Conductor
- Ching-Lien Wu
- Il Conte d’Almaviva
- René Barbera
- Bartolo
- Misha Kiria
- Rosina
- Nino Machaidze
- Figaro
- Davide Luciano
- Basilio
- Marko Mimica
- Fiorello
- Tomeu Bibiloni
- Ambrogio
- Nico Weggemans
- Berta
- Julietta Aleksanyan
- Dutch National Opera Studio - Un ufficiale
- Martin Mkhize
- Dutch National Opera Studio
Wed 14 Feb
NRC Handelsblad, 2017 *****
‘An extraordinary success was Lotte de Beer (36) with Puccini’s Il Trittico by the Bayerische Staatsoper, one of Germany’s premier houses. This makes De Beer the first Dutch opera director to truly break through to the top ranks of international opera. The Metropolitan Opera in New York has already booked her for 2023.’
Foyer Evening
Step into the world of the makers. Sit back with a drink in an informal setting and enjoy an aria or duet, a pas de deux or small ensemble, or an interview with a singer or choreographer. A varied programme, linked to a topical theme, is presented for each production.
NB: In principle, the foyer evenings are given in Dutch, but in practice the high number of international guests means that English is often spoken as well.
Mon 29 October Il barbiere di Siviglia
Starts at: 20.30 (doors open 20.00)
Location: Odeonzaal
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: € 10, € 7,50 (Vrienden), € 5 (students)
Free for Donors, Geefkringleden of Dutch National Ballet and Patterns of Dutch National Opera & Ballet.
