Sept. 18 – After his success with “Cinderella” at the Salzburg Festival, where he was the first Italian director invited to direct three different works in consecutive editions, Damiano Michieletto is presenting another famous Rossini masterpiece for his debut at the Paris Opera. “The Barber of Seville” will go on stage tomorrow. “I tried to create a staging that was able to maintain a clear narrative of the story – explains Michieletto – by placint the characters in a realistic world, such as popular neighborhood in contemporary Spain. All characters emerge vividly, and the themes of the 18th century Beaumarchais are fully reflected in our contemporary humanity. The Barber of Seville is one of the most recognizable works in the world – continues Michieletto – and it’s important to find the balance between the comedic timings of the different characters. For the director, this and stage management is everything. Everything on stage is done without interruption, from dawn to dusk and until the next morning, the space needs to be continuously transformed, and must constantly keep the pace with Rossini’s lively and poignant music.” After his 2015 debut in Paris, Michieletto will be on January 20 at the Dutch National Opera of Amsterdam, with “The Journey to Reims” and on June 29 at the Royal Opera House of London with the “Guillaume Tell,” directed by Antonio Pappano.
