The Barber of Seville makes its triumphant return to Arizona Opera

Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Opera brings back to the stage Gioachino Rossini’s greatest masterpiece, The Barber of Seville, March 3 & 4 in Tucson and March 9 – 11 in Phoenix. The Barber of Seville was the very first production that Arizona Opera presented back in 1972, and the Company is delighted for it to make its triumphant return, complete with all of the delightful characters and wildly popular music that so enchanted Arizona Opera’s first audiences.

The Barber of Seville – A Rossini masterpiece filled with twists, turns and mistaken identity

The opera tells the classic tale of the handsome Count Almaviva who falls in love with the beautiful Rosina. He solicits Figaro, the town’s crafty barber, to help win her favor and make a fool of her ridiculous guardian, Dr. Bartolo. The plot is filled with twists and turns, mistaken identities, and the triumph of young love. “As we listen to Rossini’s masterful music and laugh along with the work composted more than 200 years ago, we are not visiting a ‘museum piece.’” said John Johnson, Board Chair of Arizona Opera, “We are enjoying an art form that is very much alive today.”

Rossini’s composition is conducted by Francesco Milioto, a rising star in the young generation of conductors. Known for his innovative and thoughtful productions, Arizona Opera’s very own Joshua Borths will direct. The role of Figaro, the town’s crafty barber, is sung by Joo Won Kang on March 3, 9 and 11, with Jared Bybee alternating on March 4 and 10. Stephanie Lauricella sings the role of Rosina on March 3, 9 and 11 with Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio Artist Katrina Galka, who was “Cunegonde” in Candide, will take on the role March 4 and 10. The handsome Count Almaviva will be played by David Margulis on March 3, 9 and 11, alternating with Anthony Ciaramitaro on March 4 and 10. Alumni Studio Artist Calvin Griffin returns to the Arizona Opera stages as Dr. Bartolo, with current studio artists Zachary Owen, Stephanie Sanchez, and Jarrett Porter, all of them also from Candide, singing the roles of Don Basillio, Berta, and Fiorello, respectively. Rounding out the cast is Dale Dreyfoos playing the role of Ambrogio.

The Barber of Seville performs at Tucson Music Hall for two performances, Saturday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 4 at 2:00 p.m. It then travels to Symphony Hall in Phoenix for three performances on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets start at $25, and may be purchased at www.azopera.org or by calling 602.266.7464 or 520.293.4336.

About Arizona Opera

Arizona Opera, originally the Tucson Opera Company, was founded in 1971 by a dedicated group of opera enthusiasts. Its inaugural season featured two performances of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville in Tucson. By the 1976 – 1977 season, Arizona Opera was performing complete seasons in both Tucson and Phoenix. Since its inaugural year, Arizona Opera has produced over 170 fully-staged operas and concerts. The company’s artistic history is rich with a blend of opera’s traditional repertoire featuring baroque, bel canto, and verismo works, turn-of-the-century masterpieces, operettas, and American operas. Arizona Opera has also presented Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle twice, a feat that has only been accomplished in North America by four other companies.