Another New York City Night out: a review of (Barber of Seville/”Il barbiere di Siviglia”) at the Metropolitan Opera

The Barber of Seville ("ll barbiere di Siviglia") at the Met

The Metropolitan Opera, New York

Night number 5 in New York. Sis had a work dinner, so I took myself off to the opera. The Barber of Seville (or “Il barbiere di Siviglia” for the discerning) is an opera buffa (comic), in two acts, written by Gioachino Rossini. It premiered in 1816 in Rome and was one of the first Italian operas to open in New York City, at the Park Theatre in 1825. It is a classic story ,with a comic flair, of love, both requited (Count Almaviva and Rosina) and unrequited (Doctor Bartolo and Rosina), aided and abetted by Figaro, the barber. It sparkles with energy, and the characters and their voices are compelling. To boot, I got to sit in the parterre box (literally meaning “above ground”). There must be 40 of those surrounding the theater, with about 10 seats in each. What an experience! The doors to these little boxes are locked, and have to be opened for you by an usher! Once opened, you step into a tiny foyer where you can hang your coat. Then, into the little seating area. I felt like Marie Antoinette! I alternated between beaming at the magnificence of it all (the Met is truly grand) and blinking back tears at the magnificence of it all (hormones??!!). The experience of an Opera at the Metropolitan in New York should be one everyone’s to do list. The building is huge, plush, and very elegant. People actually dress up (Californians, imagine that?). I even saw gowns! The opera itself was delightful, although by my standards, a little long towards the end of Act II, when I found myself wanting hot chocolate and pajamas. But, that’s from the relatively uninitiated. All in all folks, truly a lifetime experience.