Despite a disastrous premiere, "The Barber of Seville" quickly became a model of its genre, being fervently acclaimed everywhere within months.
Composer Biography
Gioachino Rossini, the composer of "The Barber of Seville," was born in 1792 to a horn-player father and a singer mother, gaining early experience in theatre.
Composition History
"The Barber of Seville" was Rossini's seventeenth opera, written and staged in 1816, and was commissioned for the carnival of 1816 at the Teatro Argentina in Rome.
Critical Reception
The premiere of Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" in Rome ended in a scandal, possibly incited by a rival composer, but its success in the second performance redeemed it.
Composer Biography
At 38, Rossini surprised his audience by deciding to stop composing, except for small pieces played among friends, and dedicated himself to cooking.
Composition History
Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" was based on Beaumarchais's comedy "Le bnrbier de Shille" (1775), which had already been set to music by others, including Paisiello.
