“After the last 18 months, we have all felt the emotional pangs of a homecoming to the art form we love so much as we have returned to our practice rooms, rehearsal studios, and the stage. As we begin to emerge from our homes and re-engage with the world around us, what better way to celebrate the dawning of this new era of freedom than to gather together to laugh and cry at one of the most beloved pieces in the operatic canon. Thank you all so so much for coming – you can’t appreciate just how much we’ve missed you.”

Il Barbiere di Siviglia Clonter Opera Festival

Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Clonter Opera Festival. Photo © Edward Robinson/Bettina John

There was a strange feeling in the air as the pre-opera speech provided a prelude to the premiere of my new production of Il barbiere di Siviglia in the Cheshire countryside as part of the Clonter Opera Festival. For many in the socially-distanced and still-masked audience, this was their first foray back to the theatre in almost two years. For most of the cast, too, this production represented...