In complete contrast to the Roger Hodgson concert at the Bridgewater Hall, we enjoyed Rossini's Barber of Seville, performed by Heritage Opera, at the Grand Theatre in Lancaster.
Heritage Opera presented The Barber of Seville set in 18th century Seville, sung in a brand new English translation. It was a spirited production with Figaro as the "fixer" who is enlisted to support the Count's attempts to woo his beloved. The Count attempts a series of ridiculous disguises but it turns out that the simple solution is never the best one in Rossini’s madcap opera, full of fabulous melodies, crazy characters and zany situations.
The opera was certainly a contrast to Supertramp's Roger Hodgson but we love contrasts and I think we enjoyed both performances equally just because of their differences!
I'm hoping that we'll be able to see Mozart's Marriage of Figaro soon, maybe at Fellini's in Ambleside. Having seen the Barber it would be lovely to see the sequel - a different composer but the same original playwright - Beaumarchais. Unfortunately I don't think we'll ever see the final play in the Figaro trilogy - The Guilty Mother, as it is performed so infrequently. But we can hope!
Heritage Opera presented The Barber of Seville set in 18th century Seville, sung in a brand new English translation. It was a spirited production with Figaro as the "fixer" who is enlisted to support the Count's attempts to woo his beloved. The Count attempts a series of ridiculous disguises but it turns out that the simple solution is never the best one in Rossini’s madcap opera, full of fabulous melodies, crazy characters and zany situations.
The opera was certainly a contrast to Supertramp's Roger Hodgson but we love contrasts and I think we enjoyed both performances equally just because of their differences!
I'm hoping that we'll be able to see Mozart's Marriage of Figaro soon, maybe at Fellini's in Ambleside. Having seen the Barber it would be lovely to see the sequel - a different composer but the same original playwright - Beaumarchais. Unfortunately I don't think we'll ever see the final play in the Figaro trilogy - The Guilty Mother, as it is performed so infrequently. But we can hope!