Within the framework of ’Istanbul – Cultural Capital of Europe 2010’ and the I. Opera Festival Istanbul, the Deutsche Oper Berlin presented Il barbiere di Siviglia (stage direction: Katharina Thalbach) at the Turkish metropolis on 8 and 9 July. Rieder Promotions held the responsibility for the management of logistic concerns.
After the first show at the open air theatre Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions after only 15 minutes, next day´s performance was moved to the Halic Convention Center. A highly motivated and professional team achieved the seemingly impossible within 24 hours, transporting costumes, props and parts of the set through busy Istanbul and ensuring the smooth scenic transition on the new stage. The wonderful orchestra under the baton of Enrique Mazzola and an inspiring cast (Jana Kurucova as Rosina, Yosep Kang al Count Almaviva, Marcus Brück as Figaro and Ante Jerkunica as Basilio) were greeted with well-earned standing ovations at the end of a long opera evening.
