23-year-old Gioachino Rossini completed his masterpiece IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA incredibly quickly – legend has it in just 13 days – which Rossini attributed to ‘facility and lots of instinct’. The opera, characterized by youthful energy and bold wit, has all the ingredients for comic chaos: an imprisoned young woman, her lecherous guardian and a young noble suitor. Skilfully plotting behind the scenes is Figaro, an irrepressible and inventive character in whom many have seen a resemblance to the young Rossini himself. The score fizzes with musical brilliance, from Figaro’s famous entrance aria to the frenzy of the Act I finale. This recording sees Joyce DiDonato (Rosina) bring literal meaning to the old theatrical motto Break a leg! She did just that in an earlier show but was determined to finish her commitment and was re-staged into the production to allow for the additional challenges that come when a leading lady in a lively physical role must wheel around the other performers...

Disciplined Italian composer Antonio Salieri becomes consumed by jealousy and resentment towards the...

This is a good video of "Figaro", but there are a couple of better ones available. The Bohm and the ...

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The definitive version of this rare opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The costume and set design is ...

Inspired by one of the twentieth century's greatest novels, composer Lorin Maazel evokes Orwell's to...

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The Lyric Opera of Chicago's 1985 production of Puccini's opera, set in the late nineteenth century ...

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The life and career of Italian opera singer Farinelli, considered one of the greatest castrato singe...

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The production by Deutsche Oper Berlin achieves a beautiful balance between the stage drama and the ...

Originally commissioned to celebrate the completion of the Suez Canal and the opening of Cairos new ...