Touring Opera in the South West
© Tessitoura
tessitura (Italian, meaning "texture") describes the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding texture or timbre.
The Barber of Seville by Rossini.
Two hundred and one years old, but still as light and fresh as candy Floss!
Rossini's take on the story by Pierre Beaumarchais revolving around Figaro. His opera is lively and vivacious, pouring onto the staves from his pen in under a month.
A recycled overture? A disastrous premier? A mob of thugs to cause trouble from the start? Is that the plot? No, a glimpse of the reality of the first production in Rome.
But, the opera is a triumph from the first beat of the baton to the last glittering notes, a musical delight with a plot as sticky as spun sugar!
All the elements are there; a noble count who loves a lady but wants her to love him for himself - not his money. A grumpy Dr, guardian to the lady, who desires her for a bride and for her dowry. A canny factotum or 'jack-of-all-trades' who is no fool. A dour hypocrite to help the Dr in his quest but who's easily bribed. And, the lady herself, a feisty ragazza trapped in the house with just a pen and paper for weapons!
Climb aboard the rollercoaster ride, pull faces in the hall of mirrors, grab a candy floss then take your seat. Enjoy!
Count Almaviva - Sam Leggett
Bartolo - Jonathan Paget
Rosina - Rebecca Chellappah
Figaro - Brendan Casey
Basilio - Harry Benfield
Berta - Ethel-Jane Cormack
Fiorello - Charlie Morris