The Barber of Seville by Rossini April 1, 2011

The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution (Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L'inutile precauzione) by Gioachino Rossini

Opera San Luis Obispo (formerly Pacific Repertory Opera) presents The Barber of Seville, Rossini's fabulous masterpiece featuring great singing and comedy with madcap chases and disguises. Figaro, a “jack of all trades” succeeds in bringing Count Almaviva and Rosina together for a happy wedding conclusion. This opera features familiar music and comedic antics, beloved by many and even parodied by Bugs Bunny in the “Rabbit of Seville!”
Presented with a full orchestra, costumes and sets, the opera is sung in the original Italian with projected supertitle translations of the words as they are sung. Figaro is portrayed by returning audience favorite, Roberto Perlas Gomez, Count Almaviva by Chester Pidduck, who returns from New York City where he performs with The Metropolitan Opera chorus, and newcomer Kindra Scharich, (Broadway by the Sea), makes her OperaSLO mainstage debut, appearing as the maiden Rosina pursued by the Count.
The Barber of Seville appears at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. Pre-curtain highlights by Maestro Robert Ashens provide a lively twenty-minute romp through the evening's offering -- one hour prior to curtain. The Maestro enthralls the audience at the piano and includes descriptive anecdotes on special points in the upcoming opera. This enlightening talk is suitable for novice and expert, alike.

Official Website: http://www.operaslo.org