Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Opera al Comunale Nouveau

A solemn fiasco at its debut, then endless success. At least that is what we were led to believe by a plethora of anecdotes about accidents and conspiracies that in reality have no reliable historical evidence. There were a few skirmishes between rival impresarios in Rome in 1816 around Rossini's early works, but nothing too serious. The opera was so perfect that it was destined for triumph and such popularity that it sometimes ended up being overplayed. On the other hand, it is the astute Rossini who deceives us first: the plot is one of the oldest in the world (a greedy old man holds a young woman in his power, saved by the love of a man of her own age and a shrewd helper) and we are invited to think that, with their skilful self-presentations, Figaro and Rosina are the driving forces behind the action. In reality, it is Count Almaviva who pulls the strings with his gold and his position, but almost always under false pretences. Image, money and power: could there be a more modern opera?

For more information, characters and performers, read all about it at the official website