by Gioacchino Rossini

Welcome to Toledo Opera’s 2004-2005 season – and what a great way to begin – with the world’s most famous (and most boastful) barber! Of Giaochino Rossini’s three dozen or so stage works, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) is probably the best known, and generally considered the greatest comic opera of all time. Astonishingly, it took Rossini only two weeks to complete the score.

When Beethoven met Rossini he said “Ah!… you are the composer of Il Barbiere di Siviglia! I congratulate you…It will be played as long as Italian opera exists.”

Rossini’s talent for melodic creation has few rivals in the history of music, and yet he bade farewell to the theatre with Gulielmo Tell in 1929 at the age of 37, retiring and never regretting his decision. He lived another 40 years!

Comedic Masterpiece! Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!

Figaro’s here, Figaro’s there, Figaro’s everywhere, helping Count Almaviva win the hand of the rich and beautiful Rosina against the wishes of her guardian Dr. Bartolo, who plans to marry her himself. 

Everyone wants the attentions of Seville’s barber and jack-of-all-trades, Figaro – who has an endless supply of tricks up his sleeve!

Through a series of intrigues – enough to dissolve you into tears of laughter – Figaro manages to help Count Almaviva in his bid for the enchanting Rosina by outfoxing her lustful old guardian, Dr. Bartolo, snatching her right out from under his nose.