Il barbiere di Siviglia has all the ingredients for comic chaos: an imprisoned young woman, her lecherous guardian and her young noble suitor. And there is Figaro- irrepressible and inventive as he schemes to get the right couple together and the wrong man well away from his ward. This revival by The Royal Opera brings together a wonderful cast in a production that is full of action, bright with colour and high on humour. The directors Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier are famous for matching perceptive wit to subtle interpretation, and in this famous opera they have not just a funny story and great characters, but ever-popular music too. Rossini's verve, lyricism and virtuoso brilliance are at their most exciting, whether in the arias or the great ensembles.

This has long been a bel canto classic and one of the great operas to know, and this revival is the perfect way to indulge in a familiar favourite or discover the delight of opera for the first time.

Sung in Italian with English surtitles

News: Published on Tuesday 24 November 2010 at 00:29