The Barber of Seville closes out Calgary Opera season with Rossini’s comic classic

Calgary Opera presents The Barber of Seville, a classic comic opera by Rossini

Calgary Opera is ending its 2025-26 on a comic high note.

The company’s final production of the season is The Barber of Seville, Rossini’s comic romance which runs from April 18 to 24 at the Jubilee Auditorium.

The Barber of Seville is driven by the misadventures of Rosina, a clever young woman who is being courted by a Count and befriended by a barber named Figaro.

That last part is no small deal because in the early 19th century, the barber was the centre of every town’s community -- the purveyor of information who had the inside dirt on everyone.

In Barber of Seville, that’s Figaro, who’s the ultimate 19th century influencer -- he even gets one of the most famous opera songs ever named after him.

“Humans have been laughing at the same things since recorded history — each other and ourselves. The word ‘comedy’ comes from the Greek komos, meaning revelry — and that spirit is at the heart of these performances,” said stage director Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan.

“Whether you grew up on Buster Keaton, the Three Stooges, Three’s Company or belly laughed during Guardians’ of the Galaxy, you will be delighted by this production. A sprinkling of practical jokes, a dusting of physical comedy and a dollop of Spanish-inspired dance, are all icing on the delicious cake that is Rossini’s masterpiece.”

Rosina is performed by South African mezzo-soprano Siphokazi Molteno, while Figaro is performed by baritone Grisha Martirosyan, making his Calgary Opera debut.

Conductor Daniela Musca has worked with some leading European symphony orchestras, including Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Malmö Symphony, and the Helsingborg Symphony.

She’s making her Calgary Opera debut with The Barber of Seville.

“The Barber of Seville sparkles with wit, precision, and unstoppable momentum,“ said Musca, in a media release. ”The orchestra is truly a character in the comedy — every crescendo, every rhythmic surprise drives the humour forward.

“Rossini really found a way to organize chaos in the music,” she added, “not by describing feelings, but providing a running soundtrack that keeps a rhythm and pulse throughout the production, which helps us unveil the life and plot of the piece. The music truly gives structure to the production.”

The Barber of Seville will be performed Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, go here.