This weekend, the Florentine Opera closes out its 2016-2017 season with one of the most beloved operas of all-time, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. It’s one of the prime examples of the Bel Canto, or "beautiful singing", style of opera. And like many the operatic comedies of the day, it’s full of farce, quick changes, funny props, and slapstick.
Baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco is making his Florentine Opera debut singing the role of the Barber himself, Figaro, and says it's a particular challenge every time he does an opera that has so much recitative and action: "It constantly feels like you're running after that train. Like the train left and you're just running after it the whole time for about three hours. You finish a show and your brain is just mush."
In addition to Orozco, Lake Effect's Bonnie North also talked with mezzo-soprano Carol Garcia, who is making her US debut in this production as Rosina; tenor Taylor Stayton, who sings Count Almaviva; and Andy Wilkowske, who sings the villain Bartolo.
You can hear the full version Luis, Taylor, and Andy's version of Stuck In The Middle With You below:
If you've never seen the Bugs Bunny cartoon the singers were talking about, you can see it here:
Bugs Bunny - (Ep. 75) - Long-Haired Hare 2015 by serijedomace04
