The Barber of Seville (Glyndebourne)

This was an excellent production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia Rossini’s great opera buffa (comic opera), based upon the play by Pierre Beaumarchais.

The story is of the triumph of true love: that of Count Almaviva (Jonah Hoskins) and Rosina (Cecilia Molinari), the ward of Dr. Bartolo who also desires her.

The Count has to employ various disguises and ploys, aided by the busy-body Barber Figaro.

The standard of acting has definitely improved and the London Philharmonic, conducted by Rory MacDonald, was excellent.

With its melodies and comic touches it was an uplifting evening, though high winds and driving rain had prevented any picnics in the grounds.

I had dinner with two friends in the high-end Nether Wallop.

The cuisine has much improved too.

My only (minor) criticism was  that Figaro (German Olivera) – a Mexican baritone – had the physique of a top American golfer.

I had imagined Figaro as rotund, not someone able to drive 300 yards off the tee at Pebble Beach.

Glyndebourne is expensive but still leads the field in country house opera.