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A
Close Shave With multiple productions of classics like Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto and Carmen over the last two decades, there's no doubt Eugene Opera sticks to the classics. Maintaining that theme, The Barber of Seville will close out the year (but not the season) for the Eugene Opera, while "The World's Greatest City for the Arts and Outdoors" plays host for the fifth production of Gioacchino Rossini's comic opera since the 1978-1979 season.
Rossini's opera follows the exploits of Count Almaviva and his former servant Figaro as they use disguises and deception to woo the beautiful commoner Rosina before her impending marriage to the overbearing Dr. Bartolo. Figaro is the witty barber who advises the Count to disguise himself as a poor student, a drunken solider and a substitute singing teacher in order to gain access to the woman he's fallen for but never met. No word yet on whether Eugeneans were the inspiration for the Count's disguises. Rossini was a master at his craft, having composed nearly 40 operas in less than 20 years, and completing the score for Barber in only two weeks. One often-mentioned anecdote has him writing Barber at such a frenzied pace near a disregarded deadline that he didn't shave during its composition. Oh, sweet irony. For those readers who've decided to read this article despite a limited familiarity with the grandeur of Rossini's career, there is a measure of success that will speak to you. Barber was parodied in both Woody Woodpecker and Bugs Bunny cartoons. "What's up, Doc Bartolo?" indeed. Eugene Opera presents The Barber of Seville at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts 2:30 pm Friday, Dec. 30 and 7:30 pm Saturday, Dec. 31, with a New Year's Eve celebration to follow. Tickets are $15-$60 and are available at the Hult Center box office or online at www.hultcenter.org |
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