Gioachino Rossini's opera buffa in 2 acts "Il barbiere di Siviglia" is one of the world's most famous and popular musical comedies and also has a long tradition of performance at the Vienna State Opera. Günther Rennert's witty production has been staged there well over 400 times in the last 55 years, and now the German actor, director and stage designer Herbert Fritsch is restaging the popular opera classic. He is considered a master of intelligent, ambiguous and radically challenging humor, and has already put audiences at Vienna's Burgtheater to the test.

He has an outstanding ensemble of singers at his disposal, who are also distinguished by their acting flair. The celebrated bel canto tenor and Viennese Kammersänger Juan Diego Flórez mimes Count Almaviva and in this production is also allowed to perform the usually deleted great aria "Cessa di più resistere". The Russian Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, only 27 years old, makes her Viennese debut in the role of Rosina, and the Canadian Étienne Dupuis gives the extroverted Barber a tremendous voice and comedic ability. Paolo Bordogna, as Dr. Bartolo, makes humorously tragic attempts to marry his ward Rosina, and audience favorite Ildar Abdrazakov is in high spirits as the scheming music teacher Don Basilio. Ruth Brauer plays a silent but no less important role as Bartolo's servant Ambrogio, commenting on the entire intrigue on stage with all her body.