Lawrence Brownlee on Barbiere

Photo Credit: Mr. Andreas Klingberg.

COMMANDOpera video interviewed the much sought after American Lirico-Leggerio Tenor, Mr. Lawrence Brownlee today to discuss his upcoming portrayal of Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Seattle Opera which premieres on the evening of January 15th Seattle time. Mr. Brownlee’s interpretation of Almaviva has become his calling card to virtually every house across the globe. The reason? It may well be that this tenor is one of the few around the globe who can manage the extraordinarily fiendishly difficult bravura finale; ‘Cessa di piu resistere’. For those who are unaware that such an air exists, it is because so few performances of the work feature an artist who is willing to take it on. Much as one might say as the bravura air for Soprano at the end of I Puritani which Miss Sutherland instituted. A great deal of preparation went into this particular interview given this artist’s mastery of the role, and if COMMANDOpera would offer one thing to prepare the reading public, it is Mr. Brownlee’s distinctively sharp intellect. The closest musical personality one may consider as similar would be Maestro Richard Bonynge. COMMANDOpera had not spoken with this artist before, and Mr. Brownlee is a fascinating and spellbinding tour de force to speak with.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Mr. Brownlee essays the bravura air ‘Cessa di piu resistere’ in concert 2005