Il Barbiere Di Siviglia

Opera in Italian language with German surtitles.

The plot pattern is familiar: An elderly guardian who wants to enjoy his young ward's fortune and attractiveness to the fullest; the woman so afflicted, but who loves a younger man; an intriguer who works for the guardian; and a go-getting good spirit who in turn supports the lovers. In the end, however, the young couple finds each other and the guardian loses out.

Countless comedies tell this story in ever new variations. One of the most original variations of it was written by the adventurer and scandal writer Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. His Barbier de Séville, in turn, inspired several composers to write an operatic version. The most famous among them is Gioachino Rossini. With the sensual brilliance of his music, he was the congenial partner to turn the screw even further on the exuberant turbulence presented by the French author in his comedy. No wonder, then, that Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia is one of the most comical of the most popular operas.