Opera evaluation: Razor-sharp Barber of Seville at Glyndebourne | Theatre | Entertainment | EUROtoday

Rossini’s Barber of Seville has at all times been one among my favorite comedian operas. It is genuinely humorous and the music is a delight however I doubt that any manufacturing has ever been as pleasurable and properly acquired because the one the viewers had been handled to to open this 12 months’s Glyndebourne Festival. Everything about it was merely magnificent.

American tenor Jonah Hoskins, as Count Almaviva, demonstrated from the beginning a wonderful tenor voice that was a pleasure to hearken to, particularly when accompanied by real comedian appearing potential. The opening scene, wherein he tried to serenade the stunning however elusive Rosina, advised that we had been seeing one thing particular, however this grew to become extra-special with the entry of Figaro, performed by Mexican baritone Germàn Olvera, who sang nearly in addition to Hoskins however confirmed even perhaps better comedian expertise.

He additionally stunned us when he performed the guitar with nice ability and Flamenco flamboyance. When Figaro accompanied Almaviva in his serenading, it was superb to see him in full view quite than the same old faux of miming his strumming whereas a member of the orchestra was taking part in the guitar music.

Often on this opera Figaro and Almaviva fall in need of being a great comedian double-act, however Hoskins and Olvera had been superb collectively and when their act was joined by Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Molinari, they impressed one another to type an important comedian trio. And all of them confirmed excellent singing potential that made Rossini’s most tonsil-tangling music appear easy.

With Rory Macdonald conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra at an thrilling tempo that elevated the problem for the singers, all of them handed the problem brilliantly. Italian baritone Fabio Capitanucci was notably spectacular as Dr Bartolo in singing the quickest passages of all at breathtaking pace with Macdonald faultlessly managing the duty of conserving the singer and orchestra collectively.

On prime of all this, the director Annabel Arden deserves nice credit score not just for attracting a forged of such high quality for the main roles, however for recognizing some wonderful expertise among the many Glyndebourne refrain members and adapting their roles to make the most of their talents.

Despite all of the praiseworthy options of the primary characters, a very loud cheer from the viewers on the finish was reserved for Irish soprano Ailish Tynan within the position of Bartolo’s housekeeper Berta. Embellishing her single actual aria with gloriously seductive behaviour and a flash of a inexperienced suspender belt offered maybe one of the best of all of the comedian moments of the night.

Great music, pleasant singing, excellent casting, scrumptious humour, imaginative route: I don’t suppose that I’ve ever seen an opera efficiency as excellent as this one. I want I had greater than 5 stars to present it.