THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Gioachino Rossini
The greatest comic opera of them all

OPENS MARCH 17TH, 2012! ► An abundance of fun, and filled with effervescent melodies and inventive orchestrations, The Barber of Seville is absurd, touching, witty, hilarious and irresistible. VO’s inventive new production sets the action on a movie backlot in Seville in the 1940s. Rosina is the starlet, Bartolo is the studio owner (and Rosina’s slimy agent), Almaviva is a star-struck nobleman, and Figaro is the studio hairstylist with a flair for finagling and tomfoolery!

Read the full synopsis

Tickets available NOW exclusively through the VO Ticket Centre.

FAMILY PACKS
Family Packs are also available for the March 25th matinee: with the purchase of two regular-priced adult tickets, additional tickets for children aged 18 and under can be purchased for $35 each. Contact the VO Ticket Centre for more information.

PARKING ADVISORY
Click here for tips on parking.
Parking for VO patrons will be available at the BC Hydro lot for all performances of Barber of Seville. The lot opens at 6:00pm for evening performances. For the Sunday, March 25 matinee, the lot will open at 12:00pm.

There are 300 parking stalls under the BC Hydro Building, just 1 block from the theatre complex. The lot is located at the corner of Homer and Dunsmuir Streets (enter from Homer Street). Parking costs $10.00. Be sure to identify yourself as a VO patron.

ON STAGE FOR 5 PERFORMANCES ONLY

Saturday	March 17, 2012	7:30pm
Tuesday	March 20, 2012	7:30pm
Thursday	March 22, 2012	7:30pm
Saturday	March 24, 2012	7:30pm
Sunday	March 25, 2012 • Matinee	1:30pm

All performances are at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Approximate running time: 2 hours and 50 minutes, including one intermission.

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Conducted by	ROBERT TWETEN ROBERT TWETEN CONDUCTOR Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: Conductor, Tosca, 2007 Recent Appearances: Gianni Schicchi and Pagliacci with Calgary Opera Rigoletto and Falstaff with Utah Opera Tosca with Edmonton Opera Die Zauberflöte with Sarasota Opera Upcoming Engagements: Fidelio with Edmonton Opera Otello with Calgary Opera Mr. Tweten is the Head of Music for The Santa Fe Opera. Mr. Tweten’s appearance is supported by a gift from Mary Tait & Bill Sirett. More about Robert Tweten.
Directed by	DENNIS GARNHUM DENNIS GARNHUM DIRECTOR London, ON VANCOUVER OPERA DEBUT Recent Appearances: Carmen with Pacific Opera Victoria Much Ado About Nothing with Theatre Calgary Beyond Eden with Theatre Calgary and Vancouver Playhouse La Traviata with Pacific Opera Victoria Upcoming Engagements: Pride and Prejudice with National Arts Centre and Theatre Calgary Member of the 2012 Governor General Leadership Conference Mr.Garnhum is the Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary. Mr.Garnhum's appearance is supported by a gift from Bruce Munro Wright. More about Dennis Garnhum
Figaro	JOSHUA HOPKINS JOSHUA HOPKINS FIGARO BARITONE Pembroke, ON VANCOUVER OPERA DÉBUT Recent Appearances: Junius in The Rape of Lucretia with Houston Grand Opera Argante in Rinaldo with Glyndebourne Touring Opera Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with The Santa Fe Opera Ping in Turandot with The Metropolitan Opera Upcoming Engagements: Marcello in La bohème with Houston Grand Opera Lord Guglielmo Cecil in Maria Stuarda with The Metropolitan Opera Mr. Hopkins’s appearance is supported by a gift from Tony & Reet Kana. More about Joshua Hopkins
Rosina	SANDRA PIQUES EDDY SANDRA PIQUES EDDY ROSINA MEZZO-SOPRANO Cambridge, MA Last VO Appearance: Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri, 2008 Recent Appearances: Carmen with Opera North (UK), Lyric Opera of Kansas City & Emerald City Opera Idamante in Idomeneo with Boston Lyric Opera Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri with Austin Lyric Opera and Boston Midsummer Opera Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel with Portland Opera Upcoming Engagements: Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Lyric Opera of Kansas City Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Portland Opera Ms. Eddy’s appearance is supported by a gift from an anonymous donor. More about Sandra Piques Eddy
Almaviva	RENÉ BARBERA RENÉ BARBERA ALMAVIVA TENOR San Antonio, TX VANCOUVER OPERA DEBUT Recent Appearances: Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven) with San Antonio Symphony Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with Lyric Opera of Chicago Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Lyric Opera of Chicago Tonio in The Daughter of the Regiment with Opera Theater of St. Louis Upcoming Engagements: Ernesto in Don Pasquale with Lyric Opera of Chicago Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola with Seattle Opera Mr. Barbera’s appearance is supported by a gift from Drs. Alastair & Jean Carruthers. More about René Barbera
Bartolo	THOMAS HAMMONS THOMAS HAMMONS BARTOLO BASS-BARITONE Cincinnati, OH Last VO Appearance: Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China, 2010 Recent Appearances: Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Colorado Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China with The Canadian Opera Company Benoit / Alcindoro in La bohème with The Santa Fe Opera Maharajah in The Last Savage with The Santa Fe Opera Upcoming Engagements: Doctor Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Michigan Opera Theater Simone in Gianni Schicchi with Cincinnati Opera Mr. Hammons’s appearance is supported by a gift from Ms. Regina Boxer. More about Thomas Hammons
Basilio	THOMAS GOERZ THOMAS GOERZ BASILIO BASS-BARITONE Kitchener, ON Last VO Appearance: Publio in La Clemenza di Tito, 2011 Recent Appearances: Sulpice (cover) in La fille du Regiment and Lord Krishna (cover) in Satyagraha with The Metropolitan Opera Pooh Bah in The Mikado with Edmonton Opera Don Alfonso (cover) in Così fan tutte with The Metropolitan Opera Upcoming Engagements: Rocco in Fidelio with Edmonton Opera Owen Hart in Dead Man Walking with L'Opèra de Montréal Mr. Goerz’s appearance is supported by a gift from Drs. G & M. Carlson. More about Thomas Goerz
Berta	BARBARA TOWELL BARBARA TOWELL Berta MEZZO-SOPRANO Thunder Bay, ON Berta Last VO Appearance: Flora in La Traviata, 2011 Recent Appearances: Soloist, Les Noces with Vancouver Bach Choir COSI Independent Study Program for Professional Singers, Italy Soloist, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers with Vancouver Bach Choir Page in Salome and Rigoletto with Vancouver Opera Upcoming Engagements: Chorus in Aïda with Vancouver Opera Ms. Towell’s appearance is supported by a gift from Robin & Parviz Cordwell. More about Barbara Towell
Ambrogio	ANGUS BELL ANGUS BELL Ambrogio BASS-BARITONE Bankstown, Australia Last VO Appearance: Fifth Jew in Salome, 2009 Recent Appearances: Mozart's Requiem with Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra Dr. Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Vancouver Island Opera Dr. Grenville in La Traviata with Vancouver Opera Dr. Dulcamarra in L’Elisir d’Amore with Burnaby Lyric Opera Upcoming Engagements: Betto in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Klass Brahms's Requiem with The St. Andrew’s-Wesley SummerChor
Fiorello	MICHAEL NYBY MICHAEL NYBY Fiorello BARITONE Hamilton, ON Fiorello Last VO Appearance: Morales in Carmen, 2009 Recent Appearances: William Dale in Silent Night with Minnesota Opera Leuthold in Guillaume Tell with Caramoor Opera Marchese d'Obigny in La Traviata with Minnesota Opera Cecil in Maria Stuarda with Minnesota Opera Upcoming Engagements: Ottokar in Der Freischütz with Opera Atelier Mr. Nyby’s appearance is supported by a gift from Dr. Heather Clarke. More about Michael Nyby
Sergeant	WILLY MILES-GRENZBERG WILLY MILES-GRENZBERG BARITONE St. Catharines, ON Sergeant Last VO Appearance: Messenger in La Traviata, 2011 Recent Appearances: Les Noces with Vancouver Bach Choir Don Giovanni with Burnaby Lyric Opera Escamillo in Carmen with Vancouver Island Opera Germont in La Traviata with Vancouver Island Opera Upcoming Engagements: Lalo in The Fallujah Project with City Opera Vancouver Marco in Gianni Schicchi with The Opera Project
Chorus Director / Associate Conductor	LESLIE DALA LESLIE DALA Chorus Director / Associate Conductor Toronto, ON Last VO Appearance: Conductor, West Side Story, 2011 Recent Appearances: Les Noces and Catulli Carmina with Vancouver Bach Choir The Nutcracker with Goh Ballet and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra Lillian Alling with The Banff Centre Albert Herring with UBC Opera Ensemble Upcoming Engagements: Die Schöpfung (The Creation) with Vancouver Bach Choir La bohème and The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera Mr. Dala is the Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir and the Music Director of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony. Mr. Dala’s appearance is supported by a gift from Mrs. Stephanie Chung & Dr. Peter Chung. More about Leslie Dala
Set Designer	ALLAN STICHBURY ALLAN STICHBURY Set Designer Victoria, BC VANCOUVER OPERA DEBUT Recent Appearances: The Flying Dutchman with Pacific Opera Victoria The Rake’s Progress with Pacific Opera Victoria The Wars with Vancouver Playhouse and Theatre Calgary The Miracle Worker with Vancouver Playhouse One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Theatre Calgary and Manitoba Theatre Centre Communion with Alberta Theatre Projects Mr. Stichbury is Professor of Design at the University of Victoria and is a member of The Associated Designers of Canada.
Lighting Designer	KEVIN LAMOTTE KEVIN LAMOTTE Lighting Designer Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Last VO Appearance: The Barber of Seville, 1991 Recent Appearances: The Flying Dutchman with Pacific Opera Victoria Enron, A Christmas Carol, To Kill a Mockingbird with Theatre Calgary Heartbreak House, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, When the Rain Stops Falling, Top dog/Underdog with Shaw Festival Uncle Vanya with Vigszenhaz Budapest Upcoming Engagements: His Girl Friday, Present Laughter, Hedda Gabbler with Shaw Festival Endgame, The Royal Comedians with Soulpepper Theatre Mr. Lamotte is the Director of Lighting Design for the Shaw Festival and is a member of The Associated Designers of Canada.
Costume Designer	PARVIN MIRHADY PARVIN MIRHADY Costume Designer Tehran, Iran Last VO Appearance: Costume Designer, Nixon in China, 2010 Recent Projects: Costume Designer for Vancouver Opera’s Principal Singers 2005– 2011 Designer, Owner/Operator of Puffin Costume Construction in BC Film Industry Ms. Mirhady is the Head of the Vancouver Opera Costume Shop.
Assistant Director	ASHLIE CORCORAN ASHLIE CORCORAN Assistant Director White Rock, BC VANCOUVER OPERA DEBUT Recent Appearances: Assistant Director, Tosca with The Canadian Opera Company Assistant Director, Fidelio with Opera North Director, The Ugly One with Theatre Smash Director, Isis & The Seven Scorpions with The Canadian Opera Company Upcoming Engagements: Director, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Western Canada Theatre Director, Die Fledermaus with Cowtown Opera Company Ms. Corcoran co-founded Theatre Smash and is the incoming Artistic Director at Thousand Islands Playhouse. More about Ashlie Corcoran
Stage Manager	SHEILA MUNN SHEILA MUNN STAGE MANAGER Vancouver, BC Last VO Appearance: Roméo et Juliette, 2011 Recent Appearances: Albert Herring with UBC Opera Ensemble La Traviata, La Clemenza di Tito, Lucia di Lammermoor, Lillian Alling, Madama Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, Nixon in China, Norma, Salome, Rigoletto, Carmen, Eugene Onegin, La Bohème, Fidelio, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci, Tosca, Ariadne auf Naxos, The Magic Flute and Macbeth with Vancouver Opera. L’Orfeo and L’Incoronazione di Poppea with Festival Vancouver Upcoming Engagements: Aïda with Vancouver Opera Ms. Munn is pleased to be joined by Assistant Stage Managers Theresa Tsang and Beth Grieve.

Vancouver Opera productions take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Hamilton at Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2P1

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Scenes from The Barber of Seville

All photos by Tim Matheson

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Gioachino Rossini The greatest comic opera of them all