2 minute read
Notes from the Director
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR ASHLIE CORCORAN
Welcome to our production of The Barber of Seville, one of the zaniest comedies in the operatic canon—full of love, adventure, mistaken identities, playfulness, games—and of course, beautiful singing.
It is hard to keep all of the plot’s details straight, but at the core of it is the whirlwind romance between Count Almaviva and Rosina. The course of true love never did run smooth and, in this story, it is Figaro (the man who can do everything) who paves the way for our mischievous and adventurous lovers to find happiness together. With more false identities, more inside jokes, and more stolen kisses than most French farces, Rossini’s opera sparkles with comic opportunities.
Quite astonishingly, the music for The Barber of Seville was composed in just a few weeks one December. When I think about what I accomplished over these last holidays, I am impressed by Rossini’s stamina and focus! To be fair, Rossini was well known for recycling parts of earlier works (for example the famous overture is actually from Aureliano in Palmira and Elisabetta, regina d’Inghilterra). At a time when recordings weren’t possible, one imagines that this kind of recycling was easier to get away with! When your music is as catchy as Rossini’s is, why not find ways to celebrate it again? There are many catchy hooks in this opera and if you haven’t seen it before, you will still find moments you recognize—if not least from the famous Looney Tunes version, Rabbit of Seville.
This is my second time working on The Barber of Seville. The first time—eight years ago—was also with Vancouver Opera, when I was assistant director to Dennis Garnhum. Returning to the opera, this time in the director’s seat, has been a wonderful, love-filled experience. Not only because of these magnificent tunes, but mostly because of the way the work encourages us to live our life—with a sense of adventure, humour, playfulness, and great joy.
Originally from White Rock, British Columbia, Ashlie is a Dora Award–winning theatre and opera director who works across Canada and internationally at companies such as the Canadian Opera Company, the Shaw Festival, and Opera Philadelphia. Ashlie has been the Artistic Director of the Arts Club Theatre Company since 2018.
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