Florida Opera Theatre will bring Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, to Orlando opera fans in three Central Florida cities January 15-29.
The Orlando performance of The Barber of Seville will be held at 2 p.m. on January 29, at Valencia College East Campus Performing Arts Center, with free parking just 12 minutes from downtown Orlando.
Vero Beach Opera, First Coast Opera, and Florida Opera Theatre collaborate to bring The Barber of Seville to Vero Beach, St. Augustine and Orlando stages with a star-laden cast for one of opera’s most popular productions.
“We’re pleased to be able to bring the dreams of opera fans to fruition,” said Florida Opera Theatre president Judy Lee. “Florida Opera Theatre is producing opera in Orlando and our second production will be as beautiful–if not more so–than the first.”
Renowned tenor Luigi Boccia is Count Almaviva. Boccia was described in The Metropolitan Opera Guild’s “Opera News” as “an uncommonly cerebral tenor.” He is a versatile recitalist whose range spans florid Handel arias to the romantic outpourings of Italian and Neapolitan song. He is joined by a veteran of both The Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera, David Salsbery Fry who plays Basilio.
Orlando favorite and Director of the University of Central Florida Opera Program, Thomas Potter performs Bartolo. Rounding out this very talented cast are accomplished singing actors Kenneth Mattice and Candice Hoyes who portray Figaro and Rosina with comic mastery.
The Barber of Seville is directed by Florida Opera Theatre Artistic Director Frank McClain who, together with Conductor, Chorus Master and Music Director Robin Stamper, bring the operatic performances together. McClain’s opera directing credits include The Medium for Florida Opera Theatre; the Orlando Philharmonic production of La Bohème; The Merry Widow for Opera Tampa; Don Pasquale for Vero Beach Opera; and for Orlando Opera: Il Trovatore, L’Elisir d’Emore, Candide, Le Nozze di Figaro. Mr. Stamper’s conducting credits include mainstage performances of Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, Pagliacci, Sour Angelica, Le Nozze di Figaro and Il barbiere di Siviglia, L’elisir d’amore, Pirates of Penzance and Die Fledermaus.
Florida Opera Theatre is a Central Florida professional opera company dedicated to producing quality opera performances. The organization is comprised of directors, musicians, performers and individuals who have supported opera growth, education and outreach in communities throughout the state for many years.
Tickets are available in this limited seating venue for purchase online at www.FLOperaTheatre.org or by phone: 407-718-4365. Calls will be returned between 5-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and in a timely manner as received. For further information contact: FLOperaTheatre@gmail.com or 407-718-4365.
Rossini’s debut performance of The Barber of Seville at the Teatro Argentina was in Rome in 1816. The Barber of Seville was one of the earliest Italian operas to be performed in America and premiered at the Park Theater in New York City in 1825.
Historically, barbers were precursors to surgeons and highly respected in their communities. Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is a two-act comic opera founded upon the text Le Barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais.
Rossini’s most popular and recognizable music in this opera are Figaro’s celebrated baritone arias “Largo al factotum”, Rosina’s soprano aria “Una voce poco fa” and the singing duet they have together “Dunque io son.”
The next opera production will be Verdi’s Rigoletto at 8 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2012; and at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 4, 2012, Presented by The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Produced in collaboration with Florida Opera Theatre At The Bob Carr Performing Arts Center
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