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...

The deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House causes murder and mayhem in an attempt to make...

This telecast offers a rare opportunity to see the legendary Joan Sutherland in the role that first ...

Two years prior to the opening scene, the nobleman Florestan has exposed or attempted to expose cert...

The grand scale and magnificent acoustics of the Roman arena in Verona are ideally suited to the pag...

Opera in one act, libretto by G. Forzano based on Dante's Divine Comedy. Third part of his opera Tri...
The writer Dario Fo applies his inventive genius to Rossini's comic opera in its premiere DVD releas...

Here is a rare and exceptional example in which the director and costume designer amuse themselves w...

Stage director Emilio Sagi's production of the legendary Barber of Seville is enriched by a bright d...

La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo (Cinderella, or Goodness Triumphant) is an operatic dramma...

This live version of Puccini s superbly dramatic opera was recorded in Rome in the exact locations a...
A colorful and comedic staging of the classic opera buffa by the Vienna State Opera.

Carlos Álvarez takes the title role in the first of Verdi's Shakespearean operas, with Maria Guleghi...

Sasha Regan’s award-winning All-male Company are set to lift everyone’s spirits with a treat in thei...

Charles Mackerras teases the romantic beauty from Gounod's score, which has been widely admired sinc...

Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this light hearted tale of political a...

Renée Fleming stars in the title role of one of Handel’s greatest dramas, seen in Stephen Wadsworth’...

Disenchanted opera star Carlotta Manson falls for ruffian cat burglar Barney McGann and gives up her...

Axel Köhler’s production of Der Freischütz at the Dresden State Opera was described by Die Presse as...