Opera review: How does the inane ‘Barber of Seville’ become transcendent?

One question that arises from Minnesota Opera s production of Gioachino Rossini s The Barber of Seville how did such an inane story become so embedded in the consciousness of Western heritage Musical themes from the opera appear in so numerous movies TV shows and commercials from Looney Tunes to Seinfeld to Doritos commercials it s apparently got several of the preponderance recognizable music ever and yet the plot of the opera is unmemorable It s a credit to Rossini s genius that the opera s music remains ubiquitous in our cultural soundtrack It allegedly made for riotous comedy back when the opera first premiered in Count Almaviva having fallen in love with a young lady named Rosina in Seville disguises himself as a poor scholar so she ll see him for more than his money and status Rosina is the ward of the awful Physician Bartolo who wants to marry her himself and the count employs his old servant Figaro who happens to be a barber to help get past the Physician and into Rosina s heart Various antics ensue One of the best parts of the opera takes place before any performers are seen onstage The audience takes in the overture while looking at Allen Moyer s set design showing a painted backdrop of red curtains contained within a proscenium arch as well as chandeliers that are lifted up at the end of the music The Minnesota Opera Orchestra conducted by principal conductor Christopher Franklin performs the innovative overture superbly Rossini had a talent for creating thrilling contrasts of weight and lightness that make for a wholly absorbing piece of entertainment Throughout the opera Moyer s set design reveals ornate scenes from a town square in the beginning to various rooms within the home of Practitioner Bartolo Often Moyer used layers of drops to create perspective even as the style of the paintings themselves are quite flat They are focused more on decorative elements than creating something that looks realistic Matthew Anchel from left Katherine Henly Kara Morgan Stefan Egerstrom and Lunga Eric Hallam in the Minnesota Opera s production of The Barber of Seville which runs May - at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St Paul Cory Weaver Minnesota Opera The same could be stated for Chuck Hudson s stage direction He takes a very theatrical approach going for large physical gestures rather than subtle expressions As an example when Count Almaviva played by Lunga Eric Hallam opening night in the double cast production tries to serenade Rosina played by Katherine Beck on opening night he makes little attempt to make it seem like he s truly playing the guitar he s holding It s the sentiment he portrays a man in love that becomes what is transmitted to the audience not the mechanics of his guitar fingering Later Almaviva pretends to be a piano guide in order to see his love and in that matter Hallam makes a joke of being surprised by the orchestral sound his harpsichord seems to make which is truly coming from the orchestra pit Playing Figaro on opening night Takaoki Onishi handles the physicality of the role well and stops the show with the famous Largo al factotum aria where he sings his name repeatedly and engages in quick patter vocalizing Another crowd pleaser is Stefan Egerstrom as Don Basilio the conniving sycophant With his long black wig designed by Emma Gustafson enormous black hat in a delightfully morbid costume designed by Mathew J LeFebvre and deadpan delivery Egerstrom is a hoot As Count Almaviva Hallam taps into his character s lovestruck air admirably and sounds especially good when blending his voice with the lovely Katherine Beck as Rosina Throughout the opera Rossini throws in wonderful fast-paced articulations and comedic zingers but Rosina and Almaviva s love duets add a sweet romantic touch The world is quite different the present day than it was in and selected of the comedic elements don t read for a modern audience but the music endures and this bright and boisterous production delivers on that count If you go What The Barber of Seville When p m Thu May and Sat May p m Sunday May p m Sat May p m Sun May Where The Ordway Washington St Saint Paul Tickets - at mnopera org Accessibility Elevators access all floors of Concert Hall accessibility seating for all mobility devices request when buying tickets provision animals welcome inform ticket representative listening units and large print available upon request One single occupancy accessible restroom in the Music Theater lobby Ordway org visit accessibility Capsule Minnesota Opera s bright and boisterous production shows off Gioachino Rossini s catchy music