Kyle Roeder, a 2013 Jefferson-Scranton graduate, will be in Jefferson Thursday, April 19, singing the role of the barber Figaro in Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera “The Barber of Seville.”
Roeder, a Drake University graduate, is touring with OPERA Iowa, Des Moines Metro Opera’s educational touring troupe. OPERA Iowa will perform a children’s opera, “Jack and the Beanstalk,” during a school assembly during the afternoon.
Opera IOWA will do an evening performance of “Barber of Seville” at 7 pm in the Greene County High School auditorium.
The opera will be in English and slightly shortened to two hours. It is free to the public thanks to sponsorship by Home State Bank, Jefferson Telecom and Wild Rose Casino – Jefferson.
Roeder, a baritone, in the lead role of Figaro, will sing the aria ‘Largo el factotum,’ or ‘Make way for the factotum.’ The aria is one of the best known opera arias as the refrain includes Figaro singing his own name, “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro.”
Over the past 31 years, the OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe has performed in 10 states throughout the region and even in Japan and China, spreading joy of opera to morethan 850,000 students and adults. OPERA Iowa is an Educational Division program of Des Moines Metro Opera, which is located in Indianola. Persons who want more information about Des Metro Opera’s upcoming season can call 515-961-6221 or visit website at www.desmoinesmetroopera.org.
