Il barbiere di Siviglia

The story of Il barbiere di Siviglia centres around 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. Misha Kiria 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.

Tue 13 Nov IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - NOORD HOLLANDS DAGBLAD (2018)

"A barber of Seville that blows the audience away“. “Anyone who has ever considered going to see an opera, absolutely has to go to Il barbiere di Siviglia. Rossini’s opera classic, directed by Lotte de Beer, is a truly wonderful production, in which soloists, chorus, extras and orchestra form a dazzling whole”.

Tue 13 Nov IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - DE THEATERKRANT (2018)

“this is a bravura-filled Barber” "[...] a staging that succeeds on all fronts [...]." "Over thirty years after the legendary production by Dario Fo, Dutch National Opera presents a new staging of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia that has all the qualities to achieve a similar status”. “With this successful staging on all fronts, Lotte de Beer is one step ahead of all her criticasters. Her directing of both the main characters and the ensembles is perfectly worked out, down to the last detail”.

Fri 16 Nov Il barbiere di Siviglia- Bachtrack (2018)

For this new production of Barbiere at Dutch National Opera, director Lotte de Beer chose to go back to Beaumarchais’ pre-revolution France for inspiration. The result is lavish and fun, a surprisingly traditional spectacle... although it does come with a twist.

Tue 13 Nov IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - TROUW (2018)

“…the whole cast at top level” “De Beer is not afraid of anyone, especially not of the ancien régime in the opera world”. “Conducted by Maurizio Benini, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra plays with Rossinian dexterity and fans the flames high in the hectic ensembles”.

Tue 13 Nov IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - PLACE DE L’OPERA (2018)

“Hilarious Barber by DNO “. “The Italian conductor Maurizio Benini led the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra with Rossinian tempi and nice dynamic contrasts throughout the score”.

Tue 13 Nov IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - OPUS KLASSIEK (2018)

"How do you direct a Barber that is steeped in humour, which does justice to the music and attracts a broad and young audience, and which can also compete with the memory of Dario Fo’s production? Partly thanks to conductor Maurizio Benini’s musical support, Lotte de Beer has succeeded in doing so with her new production for DNO – and with flying colours too”.

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.’