Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) / Cambreling, Ewing, Rawnsley, Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Rating:
Summary: What a gem!
Review: A totally enchanting production with all the elements needed to make it worth watching over and over. Lovely voices, wonderful interpretation, fine acting, beautiful directing/conducting and a set that fits without being distracting. The Callas/Gobbi/Alva studio recording CD is a terrific addition to this.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good video
Review: Here are my complaints about the singing in this video: John Rawnsley, the Barber, occasionally does a bit of yelling, and Maria Ewing, the Rosina, just isn't that great of a singer, in my opinion - her voice sounds a bit broken and the high notes have an unpleasant tone, however her acting is so great that you tend not to notice. The Count aspirates a little much, and occasionally has a little trouble with getting every single note out without slurring, (but it's a hard part, right?), however he also does some exquisitely elegant singing in the first act.

The video all-around is a very good presentation of Rossini's great work. The directing and the acting are so good, you find yourself giggling all the way through.