Il barbiere di Siviglia

How do I become what I am not? Since its premiere in 1816, Gioachino Rossini's masterpiece Il barbiere di Siviglia has proven itself to be a timeless comedy in which every generation can be reflected anew. In the midst of the competition for a woman, the opera explores how its characters repeatedly stumble in their pursuit of success and recognition - an analysis that is served up as a musical treat and whose punchlines also strike a chord with today's meritocracy. The longing for an optimized self drives Count Almaviva first and foremost. He and his accomplice Figaro rely on one thing above all else to conquer Rosina's heart and to undermine her guardian Bartolo as a rival. Set to Rossini's effervescent music, the protagonists become entangled in a web of relationships in which status is fought for and love is vied for. Between appearance and reality, director Tatjana Gürbaca searches for the melancholy undertones of the comedy. For behind many a masquerade lies the desire to escape one's own role, behind many a showy vocal acrobatics the fear of missing out on life. Can there ever be a winner in the pursuit of happiness?