Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online! Continuing with our summer webisode The ABC's of Opera over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at the Top 10 Most performed operas in the United States. Kicking off the list are two of the most popular comedic operas: The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini and The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Video Clips of the Week!
Although The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro were written by two different composers in two very different time periods, the stories are actually taken from a trilogy of plays with mostly the same characters (It's like two different directors making movies out of the books Twilight and Eclipse, and having the Eclipse movie released first). The first part of the story is The Barber of Seville.
The Barber of Seville
The story of The Barber of Seville follows a crafty barber, Figaro, and his former master Count Almaviva. Looking to find a woman who will fall in love with him and not his money the Count disguises himself as a poor student to woo a young woman, whose guardian is trying to keep under lock and key. Through many disguises, capers, and close calls Figaro is able to distract the guardian long enough for the two young lovebirds to meet, get married, and have a happy ending. The first clip is of one of the most popular songs from the opera, the "Largo al Factotum". In this clip John Rawnsley plays Figaro, a jack-of-all-trades who is singing about how everyone in the town needs his help.
The Marriage of Figaro
The second part of the story is The Marriage of Figaro (which came out before The Barber of Seville). In the opera Figaro teams up with Count Almaviva's wife to catch the philandering Count in the act and rekindle his appreciation for his wife. The second video clip is from the most popular aria from the opera, "Non piu andrai". In this aria, Figaro, played by Giorgio Surian, makes fun of the young boy Cherubino, who has been sent into the army because of his flirtations with Count Almaviva's wife.
Website of the Week!
Interesting in seeing these opera from the comfort of your own home? Check out the Internet Movie Database for information on two great productions of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro.
Opera on the Air!
On Saturday, August 6th at 1:30 PM radio station WRTI will be broadcasting the LA Opera's production of Gioacchino Rossini's Il Turco in Italia (in Italian). James Conlon conducts Rossini's zaniest comedy, which has been described as The Barber of Seville meets Cosi fan tutte. Nino Machaidze returns as Fiorilla, a woman determined to rid herself of the two men in her life - her exasperated husband (Paolo Gavanelli) and tedious admirer (Maxim Mironov) - in favor of a more exotic suitor, a pompously beguiling Turk (Simone Alberghini). The great Thomas Allen returns in the part of the poet Prosdocimo.
Until Next Week!
Video Clips of the Week!
Although The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro were written by two different composers in two very different time periods, the stories are actually taken from a trilogy of plays with mostly the same characters (It's like two different directors making movies out of the books Twilight and Eclipse, and having the Eclipse movie released first). The first part of the story is The Barber of Seville.
The Barber of Seville
The story of The Barber of Seville follows a crafty barber, Figaro, and his former master Count Almaviva. Looking to find a woman who will fall in love with him and not his money the Count disguises himself as a poor student to woo a young woman, whose guardian is trying to keep under lock and key. Through many disguises, capers, and close calls Figaro is able to distract the guardian long enough for the two young lovebirds to meet, get married, and have a happy ending. The first clip is of one of the most popular songs from the opera, the "Largo al Factotum". In this clip John Rawnsley plays Figaro, a jack-of-all-trades who is singing about how everyone in the town needs his help.
The Marriage of Figaro
The second part of the story is The Marriage of Figaro (which came out before The Barber of Seville). In the opera Figaro teams up with Count Almaviva's wife to catch the philandering Count in the act and rekindle his appreciation for his wife. The second video clip is from the most popular aria from the opera, "Non piu andrai". In this aria, Figaro, played by Giorgio Surian, makes fun of the young boy Cherubino, who has been sent into the army because of his flirtations with Count Almaviva's wife.
Website of the Week!
Interesting in seeing these opera from the comfort of your own home? Check out the Internet Movie Database for information on two great productions of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro.
Opera on the Air!
On Saturday, August 6th at 1:30 PM radio station WRTI will be broadcasting the LA Opera's production of Gioacchino Rossini's Il Turco in Italia (in Italian). James Conlon conducts Rossini's zaniest comedy, which has been described as The Barber of Seville meets Cosi fan tutte. Nino Machaidze returns as Fiorilla, a woman determined to rid herself of the two men in her life - her exasperated husband (Paolo Gavanelli) and tedious admirer (Maxim Mironov) - in favor of a more exotic suitor, a pompously beguiling Turk (Simone Alberghini). The great Thomas Allen returns in the part of the poet Prosdocimo.
Until Next Week!
Comments
There was 1 man who didn't give her his full attention, his name was Don Jose. A romantic yet sad story of young love blooming and falling so quickly through out the opera. Alas Carmen is murdered at the end by who else than Don Jose. Although she knew it was coming when her fortune was told, she didn't even try to prevent it from happening.
Kudos to the plot creator, it was wonderful. As well to the costume and set designers, you've really caught the beauty of Carmen and Seville, Spain. And who could compare the music the orchestra could compare to the music the orchestra lead? Great job to all those who participated in "Carmen". Another job well done at the Academy Of Music.
The orchestra did a wonderful job keeping us entertained. My favorite part was at each intermission, the orchestra would do a drum role or practice. The conductor was amazing, the orchestra were very talented musicians. I really enjoyed the opera, I hope I can go visit the Academy of Music in the future.
The costumes were great and they sang very loudly. I knew that the actors worked very hard to provide us the enjoyment we had that day. Overall, I thought the Opera was brilliant and I would've been thrilled to go there again in the future.
The way Carmen dressed in every single act was kind of fashion. The musicians did very good job playing the music, it sounded great,it was the best music I have ever heard. I truly appreciate being there a the Academy of Music to see the Opera Carmen, because if I was not there I would not have that much fun watching it.