The inspiration for my print on porcelain stage design “The Barber of Seville in My Home Town” was my daughter Roselin, a Mezzo Soprano, who sang the role of Rosina with the Longwood Opera Company: www.RoselinOsser.com.
The opera was directed by J. Scott Brumit with musical direction by Jeffrey Brody.
The mission of Longwood Opera is twofold:
•to prepare trained emerging singers for the next stage in their operatic careers by providing them with the opportunity to practice their art and to polish their performing skills in major roles before a live audience
•to foster appreciation for opera among individuals from all walks of life in the Greater Boston communities by offering high-quality, accessible and affordable operatic experiences
The Barber of Seville, by Gioacchino Rossini, tells a story of two men, Count Almaviva and Dr. Bartolo, who compete for the affection of the Sevillian señorita, Rosina.
Using a variety of schemes, the Count attempts to woo Rosina from her over-bearing guardian, whom she is condemned to marry. With the clever aid of the Count’s friend Figaro, the Barber of Seville, comedy and confusion ensue, all set to Rossini’s exuberant and popular music score.
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution (Italian: Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L’inutile precauzioneis) an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais’s French comedy Le Barbier de Séville (1775). The première of Rossini’s opera (under the title Almaviva, o sia L’inutile precauzione) took place on 20 February 1816 at the Teatro Argentina, Rome.
Made out of porcelain, underglaze applied through silkscreens made from my original sketches, glaze, wood.
15″H x 13″ D x 26″ L
Wooden Stage by Ben Moroze, Photography by Bill Davison
Overture: The Accompanist
Figaro’s Aria: Largo al factotum della città – Sung in Italian by baritone Sherrill Milnes
Translation: Make way for the factotum of the city – (someone who does many jobs) sung in English by baritone Alan Opie, conducted by Gabriele Bellini with the English National Opera Orchestra
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Count Almaviva’s Aria: Se il mio nome saper voi bramate, sung in Italian by Tenor Nicolai Gedda, conducted by James Levine with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Translation: My poor heart is so full of emotion
Sung in English by tenor Bruce Ford and conducted by Gabriele Bellini with the English National Opera Orchestra
“Where’s the Master?
Count Almaviva, disguised as a soldier, very funny encounter with Dr. Bartolo
Rosina’s aria: Una voce poco fa first sung in Italian by Lyric Soprano Beverly Sills conducted by James Levine with the London Symphony Orchestra
Translation: In my heart a gentle voice sung by Lyric Soprano Della Jones, conducted by Gabriele Bellini with the English National Opera Orchestra.
I can be so demure
Rosina
So that is it
Figaro and Rosina
Then it’s me
Rosina
I love a happy ending….
Figaro, chorus, Rosina, Count Almaviva, and the entire cast.