Rossini - Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Cecilia Bartoli; David Kuebler; Gino Quilico; Carlos Feller; Schwetzingen SWR Festspiele; Gabriele Ferro
ArtHaus Musik 102 305
Useless Precaution. Believe it or not, this was how this opera was called at its premiere. Since the Barbiere had already been written by the older, well established Paisiello, Rossini had to choose a different title. Opening night the Teatro Argentina in Rome was filled with Paisiello fans and this new opera by a “young upstart” was booed and whistled off the stage, but now, almost 200 years later where is Paisiello?
This wonderful production from Cologne just proves how successful a performance can be without any directorial updating, added “relevance” or other nonsense that has ruined so many present day productions. Although traditional, it is brilliantly directed by veteran Michael Hampe, but it is the principal singers who make this production unforgettable. The star mezzo, Cecilia Bartoli has distinguished herself as a true Rossini diva both as a dramatic actress (e.g. Desdemona) and here as a delightful comedienne singing with virtuoso brilliance and conquering Rossini’s hair-raising fioraturas with supreme ease. Underneath she has a mischievous trait and hidden fire par excellence so essential for a Rossini heroine.
Her counterpart as Count Almaviva, American tenor David Kueblerwreaks havoc in some hilarious scenes (especially as a drunken soldier), his voice perfectly suited for Rossini’s difficult tessituras. No less successful is Canadian baritone Gino Quilico(Figaro) who proves to be a worthy son of his famous father, with a velvety, resilient and acrobatic lyrical baritone. A wonderful bonus in the basso department is the eminent, now regrettably late Robert Lloyd, incomparable as Don Basilio, but Carlos Feller certainly doesn’t disappoint as the hilarious though pitiful Dr. Bartolo either.
