Il barbiere di Siviglia

Giacomo Rossini premiered "Il barbiere di Siviglia" in Rome in 1816. "Il barbiere" is the greatest exemplar of opera buffa. The comedy is bsased on the eponymous play by Beaumarchais (published in 1765), and is opera's introduction to Figaro, Rosina and the Count Almaviva.

Met version from 1989.

2024 version from Geneva.

English synopsis of the opera.

English libretto in Italian and English, side-by-side.

The cultural impact of Looney Tunes cannot be denied. Their most important legacy is having introduced generations of children to the opera. Perhaps no greater testament is this 7 minute performance of the original cartoon at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015, with the LA Phil playing Rossini's orchestration in support.

Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais was an Age of Enlightenment playwright and diplomat (1732-1799). He is best known for his "Figaro" plays: The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother. The character "Cherubino" in "The Marriage of Figaro" is based on his own youth.