We meet the charming barber Figaro, who with quick lines and even quicker solutions helps the young Count Almaviva win the heart of the beautiful Rosina. The pace is fast, the melodies are immortal, and laughter is unbridled as disguises, misunderstandings and secret deals become entangled.

This is opera at its most playful - elegant, energetic and irresistibly entertaining. The opera has been an audience favorite since its premiere in the early 19th century, and now gets a whole new twist as comedian, actor, TV personality and director Vidar Magnussen brings the story into his burlesque and not least humorous world. The audience is served poetic slapstick inspired by, amongst others, silent film hero Buster Keaton. This 2027 production will however be faithful to the original storyline The opera is sung in Norwegian, and we can promise that this will be both beautiful and funny.

Rossini's music is bel canto (beautiful singing) at its finest – with long, well-formed vocal lines, captivating arias, ensembles with flair and a refined, lyrical orchestration. The Barber of Seville is the most famous of the composer genius Rossini's many operas.

Enjoy "Figaro's Aria" with baritone Peter Mattei in the role of Figaro at The Metropolitan Opera (2011-12 season):

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Opera in two acts

Gioachino Rossini / Music
Cesare Sterbini / Libretto

ARTISTIC TEAM
Peter Szilvay / Conductor
Vidar Magnussen / Stage Director
Gjermund Andresen / Set Designer
Katja Ebbel / Costume Designer
Clement Irbil / Lighting Designer
Stian Danielsen / Choreographer

CAST
Lydia Hoen Tjore / Rosina
Markus Schwarz / Doctor Bartolo
Theodor Uggla / Count Almaviva
Simon Thorbjørnsen / Figaro
Magnus Ingemund Kjelstad / Fiorello
Ketil Hugaas / Don Basilio
Nora Oleanne Sårheim / Berta

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Choir

Sung in Norwegian, surtitled in Norwegian and English
Duration approx. 3 hours, including 30 minutes intermission
Premiere Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 6 pm
Also performed on March 16, 18 and 20 at 7 pm
Introduction by Gunnar Danbolt one hour before each performance in the Grieghallen foyer on the 2nd floor

A new production by Bergen National Opera

Presented by Bergen National Opera in collaboration with the Harmonien Musikkselskap andEdvard Grieg Choirs

Illustrative photo by Fredrik Arff