The Quinte Arts Council and Jeunesses Musicales of Canada are pleased to present The Barber of Seville (part of the Desjardins Concert Series) for one night only on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. Performed by the very talented young singers of the Quebec Opera at Belleville’s Empire Theatre.

Since its premier in 1816, Rossini’s opera continues to draw crowds, delight audiences and provide viewers with a good laugh and a good time. The Barber of Seville is a hilarious tale of two lovers, a barber, an over protective guardian and a gossiping music teacher.

The opera will include memorable favourites such as Largo al factotum and Una voce poco fa and will be sung in Italian, while the commentary will be in English. This entertaining opera is a fun-filled experience for audiences of all ages.

Tickets can be purchased at the Empire Theatre box office. Tickets for the Opera (show only) are $30 for adults, and $20 for students and seniors. There will be a Gala (reception and show) held in the Marquee Lounge at 6:30 p.m. and will include the show as well as  complimentary food by Sweet Basil and a cash bar. Tickets for the Gala are $55. Tickets can be purchased at the Empire Theatre, 321 Front St., Belleville, online at www.theempiretheatre.com or by calling 613-969-0099.

For more information, contact the Quinte Arts Council at 613-962-1232, or visit www.quinteartscouncil.org. Also, for music bites and additional information on this production of The Barber of Seville, visit www.myspace.com/jmcopera0809.
 

Synopsis

Count Almaviva, disguised as a poor student named Lindoro, is secretly in love with the beautiful young Rosina. But she is constantly and jealously watched over by her guardian, the crusty old Dr. Bartolo, who in fact intends to marry Rosina himself, much against her will. Almaviva must find a way to thwart Bartolo’s plans, so he enlists the services of his friend Figaro. Figaro is the town barber, but he does just about anything else as well, so long as he ’s paid. Figaro suggests that Almaviva (alias Lindoro) pretend he ’s a soldier with orders to be billeted in Bartolo’s home, thus gaining easy access to Rosina. Dr. Bartolo has an ally too: the wily, scurrilous Don Basilio, Rosina’s music teacher. Basilio knows that Count Almaviva is in the area and that he is Rosina’s secret lover. His plan of attack is to ruin Almaviva with vicious gossip. Figaro advises Rosina to write her lover a note, which she does. When Dr. Bartolo questions her about the missing sheet of paper and other suspicious goings on, she thoroughly enrages him with clever answers. Almaviva arrives as a drunken, disorderly soldier and creates such havoc that the police are called in. As he is about to be arrested, he secretly informs the police captain of his true identity, adding another level of confusion to the scene.

In Act II, Almaviva returns to Bartolo’s home, now disguised as a music teacher replacing the supposedly indisposed Don Basilio. While Almaviva is giving Rosina her lesson, Figaro enters and proceeds to shave Dr. Bartolo. The “music teacher” lets Rosina know he is really her lover Lindoro in disguise, and, with the help of Figaro, they all plan an elopement that evening. When Don Basilio shows up (not sick at all!), the others convince the man he looks dreadful and hustle him away. When it comes time to elope, Almaviva reveals his true identity (a rich count, not the poor student Lindoro) to Rosina, but discovers too late that the ladder he had set up has been removed. However, this only works in his favor. The notary hired by Bartolo arrives but he is quickly persuaded, with a generous bribe and at the point of a gun, to rewrite the marriage contract so that Rosina marries Almaviva, not Bartolo. The latter is consoled when Almaviva tells him he may keep Rosina’s dowry, and all ends happily.