The opera house isn’t the first place that comes to mind when looking for a place to get some laughs. But here in Seattle for one more week, in fact it is.
I had the joy of attending Seattle Opera’s Barber of Seville last night and laughed my way through this delightful Rossini comedy. It was nonstop laughs as Rossini meant it to be. A stellar performance.
Figaro was his true charming self. Completely full of himself, he bounded his way through the show, initially springing onto the stage from a seat in the audience, cajoling the crowd along the way and never letting up for the entire two and a half hours. They say Rossini gave the baritone the best music. It can’t be denied that Figaro is the highlight of this great opera.
Some of my favorite bits:
The great running joke comprised of just two words, buona sera, as the wanna-be young lovers attempt to rid themselves of the lecherous old fart.
Almaviva’s wild hair flying to the precisely correct musical accompaniment from the orchestra.
Bartolo’s falsetto mimicking of others when he's irritated.
And all those Rossini crescendos – music starting slow and quiet then building faster and louder until it explodes like a canon, the classic Rossini simile. Fast faster fastest. At many points in the show the musicians sang so fast it reminded me of the gibberish Laughter Yoga students learn. Speaking so fast and nonsensical that it becomes nothing but pure silliness.
It’s a great show. An opera full of Rossini’s infectiously upbeat spirit. Catch it if you can.
Photo: Lawrence Brownlee and Jose Carbo by Rozarii Lynch
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