Opera Scotland

Barbiere di Siviglia 2007Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Barber of Seville

Scottish Opera's 2007-08 season consisted entirely of new productions, generally successful ones at that. The company was clearly still struggling financially, however. The autumn saw the start of a new relationship with the great baritone Sir Thomas Allen, who directed Il barbiere di Siviglia. The new Mozart staging was Seraglio. There was a small-scale version of Rossini's Cinderella, which toured with piano accompaniment in the autumn, then with a reduced orchestration in the spring. A Night at the Chinese Opera, the first full-length piece by Judith Weir, not yet seen in Scotland, was beautifully staged. There was also a successful new production of Verdi's Falstaff. A stimulating innovation also appeared - the first  of three runs of short new works called 5:15 - Operas Made in Scotland. The partnership with RSAMD also continued, with Eugene Onegin. There was another Highlands and Islands tour under the Essential Scottish Opera title, and the orchestra gave a group of Sunday afternoon concerts in St Andrew's in the Square.

Sir Thomas Allen, directing his first staging for one of the major British companies, chose a piece he knew inside out, and in which he made one of his own early appearances in 1969. Simon Higlett's designs gave the work a latinate, late 19th century setting (the influence of Havana was mentioned), and it all proceeded like clockwork. Most of the cast sang with an excellent sense of style - perhaps Adrian Dwyer being too reedy in tone - ideal for his Don Alonso impersonation, if not for the more romantic aspects of the part.

Performance Cast

Fiorello servant of the Count

Paul Carey Jones

Count Almaviva

Adrian Dwyer

Figaro a barber

Thomas Oliemans

Rosina Bartolo's ward

Karen Cargill

Bartolo a doctor, Rosina's guardian

Nicholas Folwell

Berta Bartolo's housekeeper

Karin Thyselius

Don Basilio a singing teacher

Giles Tomkins

Performance DatesBarbiere di Siviglia 2007

Map List

Theatre Royal, Glasgow | Glasgow

3 Oct, 19.15 6 Oct, 14.15 20 Oct, 19.15 30 Oct, 19.15 1 Nov, 19.15

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen | Aberdeen

7 Nov, 19.30 9 Nov, 19.30

Eden Court Theatre | Inverness

14 Nov, 19.15 16 Nov, 19.15

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh | Edinburgh

23 Nov, 19.15 28 Nov, 19.15 1 Dec, 14.15

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