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Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Townsend Opera Players play it for laughs with latest offering — ‘The Barber of Seville’

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If you've watched a Bugs Bunny cartoon, you've likely heard music from "The Barber of Seville."

Really, if you've watched TV at all, you've likely heard its familiar chorus, "Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!"

Gioacchino Rossini's comic opera has been a favorite with audiences since it premièred in Rome in 1816. Townsend Opera Players is presenting three performances of the show in English beginning Sunday at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

"It's one of the few comic operas that's really funny -- not opera funny, but funny," said Ryan Murray, TOP's principal conductor.

Unlike in many other operas, there are no vengeful murders, tragic suicides or people getting buried alive. This one is just about having fun.

Young Rosina is trapped in the house with her old ward, Dr. Bartolo, who wants to marry her for his money. Count Almaviva loves her, so he hires clever barber Figaro to help her escape.

Irene Roberts, a mezzo-soprano from Sacramento, said she's loving playing feisty Rosina.

"She is a girl who has very high standards for herself," she said. "She feels she deserves more than she is getting."

She feels trapped but she knows she can figure a way out if she works hard enough.

"She's a very spicy, creative, diva-ish character," Roberts said.

Roberts has spent two months working on the role without any distractions of other repertoire. She read the original Beaumarchais play the opera was based on and has tried to learn as much about the characters as she can. She said she has a great rapport with the other cast members.

"It's just so much fun -- one of the best times I've had on stage," she said.

Ken Mattice, a Holland, Mass., resident, who co-stars as Figaro, said there's a lot to love about the opera.

"It's filled with the best tunes in opera," he said. "There isn't a minute that goes by without jokes -- verbal or physical."

His character is usually in the center of the action. In addition to being a barber, Figaro passes notes between lovers, serenades women and generally gets things done.

"I'm the jack of all trades," he said. "I'm the schemer, I'm the plotter."

Mattice, who played the Figaro previously for Opera San Jose, said his biggest challenge with the role is pacing the first act so he doesn't become exhausted after the first aria.

While the singing is demanding, the role requires him to be constantly running around on stage doing different bits of business.

Mattice said the acting is easy. "I feel like I'm just playing on stage," he said.

Murray said he's pleased with the work all the singers are doing.

"The cast is fantastic -- among the best we've had," he said.

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