Elijah Moshinsky’s delightful OA production of Rossini’s comedy has stayed the test of time. Now, it’s back in Melbourne with Orchestra Victoria conducted by Tahu Matheson. Shanul Sharma and John Longmuir divvy up the role of the hot-to-trot Count Almaviva who employs a series of disguises plus the wily barber Figaro, here sung by Samuel Dundas and Simon Meadows, to rescue his wannabe bride. She is the resourceful Rosina, sung by Helen Sherman and Emily Edmonds, who, alas, has fallen into the clutches of her predatory guardian Dr Bartolo (Andrew Moran and Shane Lowrencev) and his salacious henchman Don Basilio (David Parkin).

Limelight Editor’s Choice

Almaviva is wealthy, stealthy and head over heels. Rosina is witty, pretty and just as smitten. She’s also inconveniently betrothed. They need a plan. Time to call on: Fi-ga-ro! Figaro! Figaro!

Enter the friendly neighbourhood barber with wits and tricks as sharp as his razors. He sets to work to unite the young lovers in an evening of disguises and duplicity.

This rollicking, laugh-out-loud comedy took a young Rossini just 13 days to write. Playful energy sparkles through as many famous tunes as you can pack into two-and-a-half hours.

A cast of great voices and high spirits play among a marvellous set of cartoonish proportions — a world inspired by 1920s silent films, featuring a life-size doll’s house as its centrepiece.

Australian Figaros Samuel Dale Johnson and Samuel Dundas lead some of our best comic talents in this side-splitting romp through Seville.