Il barbiere di Siviglia
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini, based upon Le Barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais
This opera production is made possible in part by a generous gift from Marina Yoshida.
It is almost two hundred and fifty years years since the playwright, Pierre Beaumarchais created the character of Figaro, yet the charming, resourceful barber remains one of the most beloved figures in comic opera. Sterbini’s witty libretto and Rossini’s effervescent score combine to make The Barber of Seville one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the entire repertory. Sung in Italian with English surtitles, the production is designed by Wesley Mackenzie with costumes by Lisa Magill. Michael Patrick Albano directs and Russell Braun conducts, with coaching by Carmen Santoro, Rossini Specialist and The Azrieli Foundation Opera Visiting Artist.
Il barbiere di Siviglia will be livestreamed from MacMillan Theatre on the Faculty of Music YouTube channel.
November
2021
MacMillan Theatre
Thursday
Nov 25
7:30 pm
Friday
Nov 26
7:30 pm
Saturday
Nov 27
7:30 pm
Sunday
Nov 28
2:30 pm
The Tender Land
Music by Aaron Copland
Libretto by Horace Everett
Following his successful production of Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park, director Tim Albery, The Azrieli Foundation Opera Visiting Artist, returns to stage the Opera Division’s premiere of Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land. Inspired by the Depression-era photographs of Walker Evans and James Agee’s novel, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, Copland and his librettist Horace Everett have fashioned a unique coming of age story set in rural America. The narrative follows the journey of Laurie Moss, a young woman who struggles between loyalty to home and family and her compelling need to make her own way in the world. This new production is designed by Michelle Tracey. Sandra Horst conducts.
Important note: due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions at the University of Toronto, U of T Opera’s production of Copland’s The Tender Land will be available for livestreaming only.
Livestreamed from MacMillan Theatre on the Faculty of Music YouTube channel
Watch it on Youtube
March
2022
MacMillan Theatre
Thursday
Mar 17
7:30 pm
Friday
Mar 18
7:30 pm
Saturday
Mar 19
7:30 pm
Sunday
Mar 20
2:30 pm
Disobedience – CANCELLED
Libretto by Michael Patrick Albano
Music by the University of Toronto Opera Student Composer Collective
Since its inception, the Opera Division’s student composer collective has tackled issues of historical and social significance through the creation of new opera. In Disobedience, art itself comes under scrutiny as real and fictional characters debate the purpose of drama in our lives. Arguments are exchanged and passions revealed as the advocates of tradition confront progressive voices who desire a theatre which will not lecture society but rather reflect it.
**Please note that this performance has been cancelled. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.**
Made possible in part by a generous gift from Dianne W. Henderson.
CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor: Sandra Horst
Director: Mario Pacheco
Assistant Conductor: Andrea Grant
Composers: Ricardo Ferro, Qiushi Jiang, Vivian Kwok, Maria Mendes Martins, Prokhor Protasov, Nick Veltmeyer
