The Barber of Seville is the most recent offering from Charles Court Opera, running until 23 Mar at Wilton’s Music Hall with tickets here.
John Savournin directs “a sparkling English version” written by David Eaton. John tells us more about the show below.
The Barber of Seville in the Wild West! Who came up with the idea, and why did you think it would work?
It was developed by myself and David Eaton, our musical director.
When looking for a new angle, we believe it’s important to preserve the logic of the story, and in this case, the location has to cover certain parameters.
It needs to be a place where people can come and go freely, but also a place that isn’t always accessible. A bar fit the bill, and it wasn’t a big leap to the Wild West saloon.
Rossini’s farcical story feels right at home in a tongue-in-cheek setting, which is also a perfect idea for Wilton’s beautiful space.
Charles Court Opera is known for impeccable skill with a sense of fun. How do you attract your opera performers and creatives, and how do you maintain such a high standard?
We’re always aiming to make a piece of living, breathing theatre with well drawn characters, and performers and creatives always enjoy that key aspect of our work.
It’s performer led work, and that is always rewarding for both performers and audiences.
As for your latter question, that’s difficult to answer. We strive to do our best – that’s all there is to it.
Where does this production of the Barber fit in with the wider opera scene? Who do you see as your natural allies and competitors?
We’re offering opera on an intimate scale, where audiences are able to really see every detail of the performances, and that offers a different experience to the major opera houses.
And each is very much enjoyed by audiences for different and similar reasons.
You’ve directed both indoor and outdoor productions. Does the location make a substantial difference to your creative process?
It depends on the space. But in this case, WIlton’s is a total gift for this particular idea. The venue adds to the world we’ve created.
Sell us this production in three words!
Fun, classy and beautiful.