The Barber of Seville is what you would call a romp - a light comedy/love story full of misunderstandings and disguised identities. No point in really trying to follow the plot, just enjoy the catchy music.
Believe it or not, the ghostly Jokaanan that you saw writhing around in chains in Salome also plays Figaro, the Barber of Seville!
It just seems like much more of a fun role. The lead soprano was beautiful and a lovely singer as well.
My favorite moment. We had been alerted about this by one of our speakers, otherwise I would have been SO confused! It’s the end of the first act and the cast is singing in ensemble about how confused they are by the situation. So confused that they feel like an anvil is pounding in their head. "Mi par d'esser con la testa in un'orrida fucina; dell'incudini sonore l'importuno strepitar"; "My head seems to be in a fiery forge: the sound of the anvils deafens the ear" The background of a the stage goes blinding white. Suddenly you see an object starting to descend from the ceiling. A very, very, large object.
So random! So surreal! Finally it drops all the way and smashes the cart on stage.
Here is the famous Figaro aria, where he brags about being the boss barber who runs the town:
The overture is also a very familiar piece of music. Especially for Bugs Bunny fans:
But if you’d like to hear more of a “straight” rendition, here you go:
By the way, Rossini was only 24 when he wrote The Barber of Seville and supposedly wrote it in only three weeks - although the overture was recycled from a previous work.
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Sounds like it was a fun opera to hear. I loved the way Looney Tunes often used Classical music and opera in their cartoons. They were definitely the only reason I was introduced to many a piece of "highbrow" music.
Sending you big hugs.
Yes, it was a fun one. So fun that I'm going to see it again! This time in a movie theater broadcast. There will be a new cast member in one of the lead roles who is a young guy out of Stillwater, MN - I'm curious to see how he does.
It's amazing 🤩
I'm going to have to put opera on my list... That's one art form I've never seen in person. Heading to NYC myself tomorrow to see Lion King!! Seems like we miss each other quite a bit lol
Enjoy the Lion King! I did go see Hamilton in addition to the operas and really liked it. 🎶 Alexander Hamilton 🎶
I loved it when Bugs would break out singing opera! I love how you tied them together for me. Thank you!! Hugs!!
Glad you enjoyed.
Hugs!
That seems like an opera I would enjoy. Methinks my liking the Bugs rendition kind of warmed me to it at an early age. Love that Bugs Bunny episode...haha
I think having that kind of fun exposure to classical music (Bugs Bunny) is a great way to introduce kids to its pleasures.
@smartasswoman Agreed. Most of the classical music that I recall, I either heard in cartoons or movies or back when they would advertise on TV commercials to buy records from companies like K-Tel and such.
Comparing opera to Bug Bunny surely makes more relatable to me. Though I do have to say the first 25 seconds or so of the first clip caught my attention. 😍
It was fun to watch that in video, as I didn't catch a lot of the subtleties from up in the nosebleed section.
From Bugs Bunny to opera. Well done.
Thanks!