Opera Australia takes its production of The Barber of Seville into regional Australia

Following its opening on 14th July at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, Opera Australia will take its production of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville to 15 metropolitan and regional theatres throughout New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Victoria.

Opera Australia’s 27th annual National Tour will travel for two months over 14,000 kilometres across the country.

The tour will take Opera Australia to the towns of Goulburn (NSW) and Cleveland (QLD) for the first time as well as making a welcome return to Cairns, Katherine, Alice Springs, Kalgoorlie and Albany.

Award-winning director Priscilla Jackman has updated the famous barber Figaro with a hipster moustache and a barber shop to match, while leading lady Rosina takes fate into her own hands to win in the game of true love. The story has been set in the real-life Victorian town of Seville, and the nearby Yarra Valley wine region. This contemporary Australian spin brings fresh energy and vibrancy to one of the world’s most loved operas.

The cast comprises some of Opera Australia’s finest singers and musicians; sopranos Esther Song and Cathy-Di Zhang will reprise their shared the role of Rosina, tenor Shanul Sharma, who recently wowed audiences in his 5 star depiction of Gandhi in Philip Glass’ Satyagraha at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, will share the role of Count Almaviva with John Longmuir and baritones Christian Haotian Qi and Andrew Williams will share the role of the famous barber, Figaro.  

Taking opera out of the major cities and into regional areas remains an imperative part of the company’s annual program says Opera Australia Chief Executive Fiona Allan.

Allan notes “Priscilla Jackman has created a playful new production of The Barber of Seville and the cast features some of our most experienced performers as well as some exciting up and coming stars. Opera Australia remains dedicated to bringing world-class performances to audiences across the nation, aiming to increase access to live performance and to inspire new generations to take the stage through the ongoing Regional Children’s Chorus program.”

Opera Australia engages in a variety of workshops and programs with local communities at each place the tour visits, which is an important step in introducing new audiences to the world of opera.

The Regional Children’s Chorus program, under the direction of Children’s Chorus Master Jonathon Bam sees local students join the professional cast in rehearsal and in performance, for what is for many, their first taste of live performance in front of an audience.

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 317,500 people in 119 locations across metropolitan and regional Australia.

Further information at opera.org.au/events/national-tour/the-barber-of-seville/

Images. Credit: Opera Australia