
Gioachino Rossini's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE is one of the most popular operas of all time – a masterpiece of opera buffa that has delighted audiences for centuries with its blend of wit, pace, and musical brilliance.
In Katharina Thalbach's energetic production at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, classical opera meets modern folk theater, enriched with elements of the commedia dell'arte and Mediterranean joie de vivre.
An opera classic with wit, pace, and heart
Rossini's opera is based on the play "The Barber of Seville" by Beaumarchais, in which the shrewd barber Figaro helps the young Count Almaviva win the love of his life, Rosina.
The problem: Rosina lives under the control of the greedy Dr. Bartolo, who wants to marry her himself. With cunning, disguises, and deception, Figaro and Almaviva thwart his plans – until, of course, love triumphs in the end.
Rossini's sparkling music, his world-famous arias such as "Largo al factotum" and "Una voce poco fa," and the fast-paced libretto make THE BARBER OF SEVILLE a prime example of comic operatic art. The opera is full of wit, irony, and musical brilliance – and delights audiences worldwide.
Rossini's BARBER at the Deutsche Oper Berlin: Katharina Thalbach's Lively Production
Director Katharina Thalbach stages THE BARBER as a vibrant theatrical spectacle in a colorful Mediterranean coastal town. Amidst beach showers, sun loungers, and the bustle of tourists, a summery operatic comedy unfolds, with vintage cars, bicycles, and a traveling theater wagon enlivening the stage. The characters seem to have stepped straight out of a Commedia dell'arte carnival – exaggerated, grotesque, yet full of humanity.
With its theatrical flair, brilliant timing changes, and lavish costumes by Guido Maria Kretschmer, Thalbach's production is a real crowd-pleaser – for opera novices and classical music connoisseurs alike.
Cast & Musical Direction
- Conductor: Carlo Goldstein / Anna Handler
- Director: Katharina Thalbach
Featuring:
- Kieran Carrel / Kangyoon Shine Lee – Count Almaviva
- Misha Kiria / Simone Del Savio – Figaro
- Aleksandra Meteleva / Martina Baroni – Rosina
- Dean Murphy / Philipp Jekal – Dr. Bartolo
- Patrick Guetti / Volodymyr Morozov – Don Basilio
3 hours / One intermission
Sung in Italian with German and English surtitles
Additional information
Melodramma buffo in two acts
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini, based on a drama by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
First performed on 20. February, 1816 in Rome
Premiered at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on 29. November, 2009
Pre-performance lecture (in German): 45 minutes prior to each performance
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini, based on a drama by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
First performed on 20. February, 1816 in Rome
Premiered at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on 29. November, 2009
Pre-performance lecture (in German): 45 minutes prior to each performance
Participating artists
Carlo Goldstein (Musikalische Leitung)
Katharina Thalbach (Inszenierung)
Momme Röhrbein (Bühne)
Guido Maria Kretschmer (Kostüme)
Thomas Richter (Chöre)
Kieran Carrel (Graf Almaviva)
Misha Kiria (Bartolo)
Aleksandra Meteleva (Rosina)
Dean Murphy (Figaro)
Patrick Guetti (Basilio)
Navasard Hakobyan (Fiorillo)
Maria Vasilevskaya (Berta)
Paul Minhyung Roh (Ein Offizier)
Clara-Lisette Kesselmann (Ein Notar)
Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin (Chöre)
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin (Orchester)