Sunday Arts Magazine

17 Jul 2022

Barber of Seville – Australian Opera

Arts, Performing Arts, Sunday Arts Magazine

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Opera Australia will embark on its 26th annual National Tour with a new production by director
Priscilla Jackman of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, opening 15 July at the Drum Theatre,
Dandenong.
The opening marks the beginning of a three-month tour that will visit 22 metropolitan and regional
theatres throughout Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and in Canberra.
In a contemporary Australian reimagining of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, award-winning director
Jackman brings a hipster aesthetic to the famous barber Figaro and presents leading lady Rosina
as more than just a pretty face. The story has been set in the real-life Victorian town of Seville,
nestled amongst the renowned Yarra Valley wine region.
Opera Australia began its National Tour in 1996 and over the years it has presented many of the
country’s finest singers and musicians to more than 30,000 people across 117 metropolitan and
regional locations.
Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini has impressed the ongoing value the National
Tour has in increasing audience access to world-class performances.
“The National Tour remains a key opportunity and a great pleasure for Opera Australia to bring
exceptional talent to a broad range of audiences, particularly those living in regional areas. Many of
this cast are coming directly from acclaimed seasons at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre
Melbourne to perform in a premiere production for audiences right in their hometowns.”
“We are particularly thrilled to be working with a director of Priscilla Jackman’s calibre, who has
created this wonderful production that brings forth the fun and frivolity of Rossini’s music.” he said.
In a role debut for both, sopranos Esther Song and Cathy-Di Zhang will share the role of Rosina.
Two of Australia’s finest young tenors, Nicholas Jones and John Longmuir, will share the role of
Count Almaviva and baritones Haotian Qi and Andrew Williams will share the role of Figaro.
The Regional Children’s Chorus program continues as a mainstay of the National Tour where, under
the direction of Children’s Chorus Master Kate Stuart, children are selected by their local choir
leaders to join the professional cast in rehearsal and performance. This year over 400 children will
experience the excitement of performing onstage alongside the outstanding cast, to an audience of
family, friends and their broader communities.