A 200 Year Old Barber
The world’s most loved comedic opera, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, celebrates its 200th anniversary on Saturday 20 February. To mark the occasion, Opera Australia has partnered with World’s Greatest Shave to donate a portion of ticket sales to the Leukaemia Foundation, in addition to offering a strictly limited 200 tickets for 200 cents youth discount. 
WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE
In 1816 Rossini premiered The Barber of Seville which would go on to become an international hit, with its instantly recognisable overture (that many have since heard courtesy of Bugs Bunny) and of course Figaro’s aria Largo al factotum which baritones around the world have sung as they have cut the hair of the people of Seville.
To celebrate 200 years of the show, for every ticket purchased to the Sydney Opera House season of The Barber of Seville via worldsgreatestshave.com/events, Opera Australia will donate $18.16 to the Leukaemia Foundation. The season concludes on 22 March, 2016.
“We’re delighted that the world’s most famous Barber is giving us such a generous (and musical!) start to this year’s World’s Greatest Shave,” said Chris McMillan, General Manager from the Leukaemia Foundation. “We encourage all Australians to follow Figaro’s lead and register to shave or colour their hair ahead of shave weekend March 10-13.”
“Every day in Australia, 34 people will be diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma and unfortunately many sufferers are children or young adults. Money raised from World’s Greatest Shave is used to help these Australians when they need it most through counselling, information services, accommodation and transport during treatment and of course contributing to research programs to find a cure.”
“Take a friend with you to see the Barber of Seville and together the contribution from your tickets will allow the Foundation to give emotional support to someone to help overcome the initial shock of a diagnosis.”
200 TICKETS FOR 200 CENTS
With its fast-pace and quick wit, The Barber of Seville is one of the most accessible operas, perfect for people making their first visit to the Sydney Opera House.
From 9AM on Friday 19 February, Opera Australia will release 200 tickets to The Barber of Seville for 200 cents each, available for purchase by anyone aged under 30. Tickets are for performances on 10, 12, 14 or 16 March and are subject to availability. Tickets can only be purchased in-person at the Opera Australia Sydney box office at 480 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. Cash sales only, first-come-first-served, one ticket per person, ID must be presented as proof of age, the 200 special youth discounted tickets will be available until 4pm Friday 19 February or until sold out.
For people who do not qualify for this discount, or miss out due to demand, Opera Australia has ongoing accessible programs including Student Tickets and the Wakil Foundation Access Program.
What : A 200 Year Old Barber
When : Saturday the 20th of February
Where : Sydney Opera House