With an excellent cast led by Juan Diego Flórez, María Bayo, Pietro Spagnoli and Ruggero Raimondi, this production of “Il barbiere de Siviglia”, first performed at the Teatro Real Madrid in January 2005, was conducted by the great Rossini expert Gianluigi Gelmetti and staged by Emilio Sagi, Artistic Director of the Teatro Real from 2001 to 2005.

In this production, conceived as an ingenious “folie organisée”, everything is in movement, nothing is certain, including the set (completely white). This constantly changes and transforms itself in full view of the audience, to create the different scenes of the opera.

The cheerful, witty and extrovert nature of the people of Seville is a permanent element throughout the opera, as seen in the meticulous performances of the main cast (all excellent actors), the chorus and the actor-dancers. The opera becomes an immense choreography where the set and props are part of the dance.

Although the period is not exactly defined, the set design suggests the 18th century, an era of upheaval when the rigidity of the Ancien Régime gave way to the Enlightenment, and the seeds were sown for what was to come: the revolution of the bourgeois.

Colour and lighting become part of the drama rather than mere set-dressing: everything is in black and white.  There is only a touch of colour with the appearances of Rosina and her rebellious joie de vivre. This is quickly wiped away by Bartolo’s servants.

Finally, in the “tempesta” a multicoloured rain transforms the monochrome set, and more colours gradually emerge as the plot reaches the denouement.

The lively, bustling streets and spontaneous nature of the local people of Andalusia, with their flamenco-inspired dances and gestures, are an essential part of the choreography of the opera. The audience is drawn in with the opera’s surprises in a humorous theatrical breach of the fourth wall.