Il Barbiere di Siviglia

The action of Il barbiere di Siviglia is set…no matter where and when indeed. In Beaumarchais’ stage directions one reads “old Spanish costumes”, Rossini moved the action to the XVIII century which was not old but rather contemporary for the writer. One of the famous productions went as far as to show Beaumarchais and Rossini’s characters as Turkish or Arabs. Though Italy is very kindred to this story. It is an immense pleasure to watch this pointless but full of true human stories narrative evolving in an ambiance of jauntily dressed silent passers-by, neighbours chewing their pasta, a whole herd of rare motorbikes and worn-out furniture that would fit quite well into one’s parents’ apartment. The classical Spanish story is not set in sunny jolly festal Spain but in snow-covered Italy from Euronews and Italian neo-realistic films…