Barber of seville brings pageantry and masquerade to paramount

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

January 4, 2008

Among the finest and best-loved comic operas, Rossini’s Barber of Seville features a delicious score and the famous "Figaro" aria. In one deceptive scheme after another, the clever and charming barber Figaro assists dashing Count Almaviva in his plan to win the heart of the lovely Rosina by fending off her unwanted suitor and guardian, Dr. Bartolo.

Returning to The Paramount, Teatro Lirico D’Europa’s company of international soloists, chorus, and full orchestra promise a thoroughly entertaining afternoon of masquerade and pageantry when they present Il Barbiere di Siviglia (performed in the original Italian with English supertitles) on Sunday, January 13 at 4 pm.

This performance is sponsored by Renee and John Grisham.

Just before Christmas 1815, twenty-three year old Gioacchino Rossini was contracted to write a new comic opera -- Il Barbiere di Siviglia -- for the historic Teatro Argentina in Rome. In one of the most remarkable feats in the history of music, Rossini composed the entire opera in eighteen or nineteen days, then oversaw the rehearsals and conducted its world premiere on February 20, 1816.

Taking place during the spirited Carnival season, the opera’s premiere turned out to be a scandalous fiasco, complete with shouting and insults from the audience, the bass singing Don Basilio tripping over a trapdoor and getting a nosebleed, and a cat appearing onstage. To everyone's surprise, however, the opera turned out to be a big success, and Rossini went on to become one of the most famous and popular composers in the history of opera.

Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by Yves Josse, a former ballet divo and brilliant French arts promoter; and Giorgio Lalov, a young Bulgarian opera singer who made his debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, at the age of 25.

Before long the company was performing 250 dates a season throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. Drawing soloists from a huge reservoir of operatic talent in Bulgaria, Central Europe and the USA, the company soon established a reputation for traditional, full-scale productions featuring a large orchestra and chorus, and mature opera singers.

Teatro Lirico D’Europa completed over 2000 performances worldwide by the time of Josse’s passing in 1995. Lalov shifted his focus from touring in Europe to touring in the USA, where he now lives with his wife Jenny L. Kelly, former opera singer and creator of International Classic Artists Mgmt., (now Jenny Kelly Productions). 2007-2008 marks the company’s 8th consecutive season of US tours with more than 80 performances of five different full-scale operas.

As stated by Richard Dyer of Opera News, the company’s productions are "reassuringly traditional” and “tell the story clearly” with solo and ensemble singing that is “lusty, whole hearted-full throated and honest.  Something personal and passionate that is often missing from evenings of opera.”

Tickets for Teatro Lirico D’Europa’s production of The Barber of Seville at 4 pm on Sunday, January 13 are $43.50, $46.50, $49.50, and $54.50. Half-price student rush tickets and group discounts are also available.

Tickets are available online or through The Paramount’s Box Office at 434.979.1333.

For more information about Teatro Lirico D’Europa, please visit www.jennykellyproductions.com.