THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Ambrogio:  Bill Ivens
Ufficiale:  Jesse Davis

The Barber of Seville Creative Team

Conductor Antony Walker
Stage Director Linda Brovsky
Set Designer Allan Stichbury
Costume Designer Parvin Mirhardy
Lighting Designer Andrew Ostrowski
Wig & Make-up Designer  James Geier         
Stage Manager  Cindy Knight
Assistant Conductor  Sean Kelly
Chorus Master Mark Trawka
Associate Coach/Pianist James Lesniak
Second Pianist Sean Kelly
Assistant Stage Director Jennifer Williams *
Assistant Stage Manager    Sarah Cowing
Assistant Stage Manager   Randy Ahmed

<sub>+ Pittsburgh Opera debut
* Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist
** Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alumni</sub>

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Here are some details and resources to help. Also visit our Opera FAQs or our Accessibility page.

• Study Guide for THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (PDF), created by our Education department
• Run time for THE BARBER OF SEVILLE: 2 hours, 45 minutes, including 1 intermission
• Understand Every Word: Supertitles shown at all performances
• Parking Downtown: get real-time parking availability
• Audio Description available at The Benedum Center
• Braille Programs available at The Benedum Center
• Large-Print Programs available at The Benedum Center

Act I

Count Almaviva comes disguised as a student to the film studio of producer Dr. Bartolo and serenades starlet Rosina, whom Bartolo keeps under contract and closely guarded. Figaro, the barber-turned-hair stylist and make-up artist who knows all the town’s scandals, arrives.  He explains to Almaviva that Rosina is Bartolo’s protégée, not his daughter, and that the producer intends to marry her. Figaro devises a plan: the Count will disguise himself as a drunken soldier with orders to be assigned to Bartolo’s studio so that he may gain access to the girl. Almaviva is excited and Figaro looks forward to a nice cash reward.

Enchanted by the Count’s serenade, Rosina resolves to use her considerable wiles to meet its owner, whom the Count leads her to believe is a poor student named Lindoro. Bartolo appears with Rosina’s music director, Don Basilio. Basilio warns Bartolo that Count Almaviva, who has made known his admiration for Rosina, has been seen on the Seville set. Bartolo decides to marry Rosina immediately. Figaro, who has overheard the plot, warns Rosina and promises to deliver a note from her to Lindoro. Bartolo suspects that Rosina has indeed written a letter, but she outwits him at every turn. Angry at her defiance, Bartolo warns her not to trifle with him.

Almaviva arrives, creating a ruckus in his disguise as a drunken soldier, and secretly passes Rosina his own note. Bartolo is infuriated by the stranger’s behavior and noisily claims that he has an official exemption from casting guest soldiers. Figaro announces that a crowd has gathered outside, curious about the argument they hear coming from inside the studio.  The sheriff bursts in to arrest Almaviva, but when the Count secretly reveals his true identity to the official, he is instantly released. Everyone except Figaro is amazed by this turn of events.

Act II

Bartolo suspects that the “soldier” was a spy planted by Almaviva. The count returns, this time disguised as Don Alonso, a music coach and student of Don Basilio. He announces he will give Rosina her music lesson in place of Basilio, who, he claims, is ill. “Don Alonso” tells Bartolo that he is staying at the same hotel as Almaviva, and has found a letter from Rosina. He offers to tell her that it was given to him by another woman, seemingly to prove that Lindoro is toying with Rosina on Almaviva’s behalf. This convinces Bartolo that “Don Alonso” is indeed a student of the scheming Basilio, and he allows him to give Rosina her music lesson. She sings an aria, and, with Bartolo dozing off, Almaviva and Rosina declare their love.

Figaro arrives to give Bartolo his shave, and manages to snatch the key that opens the doors to the studio’s balcony. Suddenly, Basilio shows up, looking perfectly healthy. Almaviva, Rosina, and Figaro convince him with a quick bribe that he is sick with scarlet fever and must go home at once. While Bartolo gets his shave, Almaviva plots with Rosina to elope that night. But the producer overhears them and furiously realizes he has been tricked again.

Bartolo summons Basilio, telling him to bring a notary so Bartolo can marry Rosina that very night. Bartolo then shows Rosina her letter to Lindoro, as proof that he is in league with Almaviva. Heartbroken and convinced that she has been deceived, she agrees to marry Bartolo. A thunderstorm rages. Figaro and the Count climb a ladder to the film studio’s balcony and let themselves in with the key. Rosina appears and confronts Lindoro, who finally reveals his true identity as Count Almaviva. Basilio shows up with the notary. Bribed and threatened, he agrees to be a witness to the marriage of Rosina and Almaviva. Bartolo arrives with the others, but it is too late. Almaviva explains to Bartolo that it is useless to protest and Bartolo accepts that he has been beaten. Figaro, Rosina, and the Count celebrate their good fortune.

- courtesy of Opera News, freely edited

• Pittsburgh Post Gazette preview - "Pittsburgh Opera's 'Barber of Seville' opens with one of opera's most famous arias"
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review preview - "Rom-com 'Barber of Seville' updated to golden age of filmmaking"
• WQED FM podcast interview with Jonathan Beyer
• WQED FM podcast interview with Kevin Glavin
• WQED FM podcast interview with Christopher Hahn
• WQED FM podcast interview with Antony Walker
• Entertainment Central Pittsburgh's April Theater Preview
• Pittsburgh Magazine interviews Kevin Glavin
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette review - "Pittsburgh Opera gives classic 'Barber of Seville' a Hollywood makeover"
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review review - "Pittsburgh Opera fans will be glad to meet this updated 'Barber of Seville'"
• Pittsburgh in the Round review - "The Barber of Seville"
• NEXTpittsburgh article- "Pittsburgh Opera presents fresh new take on The Barber of Seville"
• Video highlights from BroadwayWorld.com
• Local Pittsburgh article - "For Pittsburgh Opera’s “Barber of Seville”, Kevin Glavin Knows How to Bring Out Laughs"
• Entertainment Central's Cool Picks - "Pittsburgh Opera running The Barber of Seville" 
• Broadway World review - "BARBER OF SEVILLE Amuses and Delights"

Here are four video excerpts from our full dress rehearsal on March 31, 2016:

Michele Angelini sings the role of Count Almaviva, who sings of his love for the beautiful Rosina in this excerpt from the famous aria "Ecco, ridente in cielo."

Figaro (Jonathan Beyer) sings of his awesomeness as the luckiest, busiest and smartest fellow in town in this excerpt from the famous aria "Largo al factotum."

Rosina (Corrie Stallings) is not to be trifled with. As she sings in this excerpt from "Una voce poco fa", she's sweet as honey, but if you push her around she'll stand her ground. 

Bartolo (sung by the one and only Kevin Glavin) warns Rosina (Corrie Stallings) not to try to pull one over on him in this excerpt of "A un dottor della mia sorte".

In this production, Bartolo owns two bulldogs. We therefore set about conducting an exhaustive search for our two newest cast members.

It started with a simple Facebook post announcing the casting call. The post got 607 likes, 337 comments and 208 shares, and resulted in one heck of a fun audition on Saturday, March 5th. 

We are pleased to announce that, of the many wonderful dogs who auditioned, Charmin (on left, with official opera headgear) and Milton were chosen.

The Post Gazette covered the auditions; their article "Dog day afternoon at the Pittsburgh Opera" was on the front page of Sunday's The Region section. 

WTAE-TV had a segment about the auditions as well, seen here on their YouTube channel.

Thank you everyone who responded and brought their wonderful pooches to audition!

Season Sponsor: PNC
Season Media Sponsor: WQED-FM
Supported in part by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Supported in part by Allegheny Regional Asset District
Proud member of Opera America
Official Chocolatier: Sarris Candies
Film Series Partner: Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Student Matinee performance sponsor: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield