In its sixth summer season, Hubbard Hall Opera Theater (HHOT) presents Giacomo Rossini’s classic comic opera, The Barber of Seville, directed by Andrew Nienaber. HHOT’s performances of Barber of Seville will be on August 16, 17 and 22 at 8 pm and August 24 and 25 at 2 pm. They will be fully costumed and staged, sung in Italian (with supertitles) and accompanied by a 19 piece orchestra conducted by Hubbard Hall favorite, Maria Sensi Sellner (Don Pasquale, La Traviata). Tickets, at $35 general, $27 members, $15 students, may be obtained by visiting www.hubbardhall.org or by calling 518-677-2495.
HHOT begins this summer’s farce in the sultry town of New Orleans. Barber by day, matchmaker by night, Figaro puts his wiles to work as he aids the Count in wooing the beautiful young Rosina. She’s such a catch that her guardian, Dr. Bartolo, keeps her under lock and key with the intent of marrying her himself. But no challenge is too great for Figaro’s trickery and, with laughter at every turn, the cunning Rosina has no trouble manipulating things herself. Together, they give the doctor and the oily music master Don Basilio a run for their money.
New Jersey baritone Patrick McNally will sing the title role in Barber of Seville with HHOT this summer. McNally recently made his international debut with the Neue Eutiner Festspiele. Joining him on stage as the Count is tenor Luke Grooms, who is on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera and who The New York Times has compared to Pavarotti in all his glory. Also appearing with HHOT this summer is the well respected veteran singer Ryan Allen, who will be performing his centennial Basilio. The bass has appeared with many opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, where he debuted with Hans Foltz in Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He has also appeared at Carnegie Hall in the Mozart Requiem and sung as soloist in Russia,
Finland, Norway, Poland and Israel. Andrew Adelsberger, a comedic stage genius hailing from the Maryland Opera Studio, will play the overbearing Dr. Bartolo. And finally, up and coming mezzo-soprano Abigail Levis, a recent graduate of the Bard College Conservatory, will take on her first Rosina.
Second-Stage Production
In addition this season, HHOT will be presenting Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury, directed by Paul Sigrist, on August 17 and 18 at 2 pm and August 23 and 24 at 8 pm. Admission is $15 suggested donation or pay what you will at the door. This piano production, sponsored by The Vermont Country Store, the Golub Foundation, and several other local businesses, provides additional training opportunities and allows our talented cover artists a chance to shine.
Angelina, jilted by her lover Edwin, has taken him to court for breach of promise. The jury has been coached by the Court to side with her, in order to be “fair and impartial.” Edwin, the defendant, offers every legal argument he can, including an offer to marry both Angelina and his new lover. The judge, who has reached his high office by marrying a rich attorney’s daughter, doesn’t know the difference between “bigamy” and “burglaree” but none of that matters once he lays eyes on the beautiful bridesmaids parading through his court.
Hubbard Hall is an historic opera house at 25 E. Main Street in Cambridge, NY. For information, visit www.hubbardhall.org.