Rossini: The Barber of Seville

by Alberto Zedda / Netherlands Opera

For his first opera production, Dario Fo, the theater director known for his brilliant wit, chose to stage Rossini's comedy "Il Barbiere Di Siviglia" ("The Barber of Seville") as a joyful carnival for the Netherlands Opera. First mounted in 1987, it was a huge success, and a live recording of its revival in May 1992, the 200th anniversary of Rossini's birth, was made. The Italian conductor Alberto Zedda is a Rossini specialist par excellence, and his scintillating interpretation of the music (which is performed in his own critical edition), together with his unflagging energy, draws a magnificent display of playing from The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. The cast includes Richard Croft as Count Almaviva, David Malis as Figaro, Renato Carecchi as Bartolo and the acclaimed Rossini virtuoso Jennifer Larmore as Rosina.