Il barbiere di Siviglia / The Barber of Seville – Gioacchino Rossini

Bartłomiej Kamiński, Dawid Pieróg, Krzysztof Tyszko, Rafał Wiewióra

All performers excelled. Hubert Zapiór leads the cast as the omnipresent Figaro. His Figaro has a sparkle in his eye and a mischievous expression, and his well-sounding baritone and acting freedom deserve special recognition. Teresa Marut accompanies him bravely, possessing a light, well-sounding coloratura soprano, which became the main strength of her role. Singing highly demanding coloratura passages seemed to give her genuine pleasure. She was a Rosina of youthful charm and notable stage temperament, yet clever and capable of achieving her goals. Theodore Browne complemented them well in the role of Count Almaviva, with a lyrical tenor of interesting color and timbre. Piotr Myciński, as the genuinely funny and jealous Doctor Bartolo, impressed from his first appearance on stage, with excellent facial expressions, a beautifully led voice, and vocal freedom that allowed him to navigate all the vocal challenges of the role. Tomasz Kumięga handled the demanding role of Don Basilio with great success. Other roles included Elżbieta Wróblewska as Berta, Marek Makowski as the perpetually sleepy Ambrogio, and Łukasz Górczyński in the dual role of Fiorello and the Officer. The soloists were accompanied by the soloist choir prepared by Krzysztof Kusiel-Moroz.

Rossini’s music, under the precise baton of Maestro Adam Banaszak, flowed like a swift current, with excellently balanced tempos and lightness. His interpretation included musical humor, moments of lyrical reflection, and dynamics that allowed singers to lead their voices naturally. Special praise is due for the precision in conducting complex ensembles, which proceeded like clockwork. The Period Instrument Orchestra of the Warsaw Chamber Opera (MACV) once again proved its artistic class with this premiere.