The Barber of Seville

About

CCM’s staging of Rossini’s opera buffa set the action across two principal spaces: the street outside Dr. Bartolo’s house, with Rosina’s balcony and window above, and the richly appointed salon inside. The scenic design was crafted to motivate and support the quick comic business of the piece. Central to the concept was a reimagining of Dr. Bartolo as an 18th‑century dilettante and obsessive collector of exotic curiosities—objects of art, scientific specimens, and even women. This idea was realized onstage with towering bookcases filled with specimen jars and rare objects, and a prominent cabinet displaying a colorful pinned butterfly collection. The environment underscored Bartolo’s desire to possess Rosina as part of his collection. The set was also engineered with the capacity to tour.