Ealing Opera in the Park
Ealing Council presents Opera A La Carte’s
Barber of Seville
Rossini’s best known comic opera
Nicholas Heath as Artistic Director
Monday 14 July 2008
Tuesday 15 July 2008 – VIP tickets available
Walpole Park
Site Open 6.30pm, show starts 7.30pm
Opera in the Park photo gallery
The Barber of Seville
Be engulfed by the twisted love story of Count Almaviva and his beloved Rosina. In efforts to win the heart of the young beauty, Count Almaviva hires the help of Figaro - the Barber of Seville. Figaro assists the count in winning Rosina’s heart - in what becomes a chaotic web of disguise, lies and deception.
With a twist of tango, a decade of cultural conflict is embraced against a backdrop of 1920's decadence.
Accompanied by Opera A La Carte's own Tango style band consisting of a Violin, Clarinet, Accordion, Bassoon and Piano with musical direction by Benjamin Frost.
Directed by Nicholas Heath this fully staged production of Rossini's best-known comic opera will be sung in Italian.
Ticket prices
The box office is now open.
Ticket price: £20
Tickets subject to £2 booking fee and £1.60 transaction fee.
VIP ticket price: £40 (Tuesday night)
VIP tickets subject to £3.50 booking fee and £1.60 transaction fee. Includes premier seating, free programme, drinks reception, access to the artist’s bar, drinks and canapés in the interval.
Minors should be accompanied by a ticket holding adult.
Download Opera in the Park leaflet (pdf)
Act 1
Count Almaviva has fallen in love with the ward of Doctor Bartolo, Rosina. Although Dr. Bartolo is Rosina's guardian, he desires to marry Rosina himself. To win over Rosina, the Count Almaviva hires Figaro who is the “Barber of Seville” and they both make a plan.
Almaviva meets Rosina under the disguise of a student named Lindoro.
After a serenade and an exchange of letters, he decides to meet Rosina. With the help of his accomplice Figaro, he disguises himself as a drunken soldier and manages to get into Bartolo’s house. But his plan comes aground when he is discovered by the police.
Act 2
Count Almaviva disguises himself again to gain entry into Bartolo's house. He arrives as a replacement for Basilio, Rosina's music teacher and Dr. Bartolo's friend. He tells Bartolo that Basilio is ill. To win the suspicious Bartolo’s confidence, he presents one of Rosina’s letters. Bartolo thinks he will inflame Rosina’s jealousy by telling her that Lindoro (the count in disguise) is just an agent for the count. Rosina feels heartbroken and agrees to marry Bartolo. But Almaviva arrives just in time and convinces Rosina of his honesty.
Cast
Victoria Simmonds - Rosina
Jochem Van Ast - Figaro
Timothy Hicks - Dr Bartolo
Mark Cunningham - Count Almaviva
Martin Robson - Basilio
Sarah Vivian - Berta
Thomas Barnard - Policeman
Leandros Taliotis - Fiorello
Benjamin Frost - Musical Director
Nicholas Heath Director
Maria Luisa Olmos - Costumes
Line up subject to change
Opera A la Carte
Since its inception in 1993 Opera a la Carte has established itself as one of the UK’s most exciting and original chamber opera companies. Its founder and artistic director, Nicholas Heath, has used his extensive musical and performing experience gained from working at the Royal Opera to create a flexible company with flair and enthusiasm that is equally at home with cabaret to full scale opera seria. Using his knowledge of the established talents and rising stars at Covent Garden and ENO the company has provoked great critical acclaim.
"Dare we say, better than Glyndebourne" Irish Times
"A superb performance by Opera A La Carte" Artscape
"Simply awesome". Salisbury International Festival
