MusicSmiles.com
The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This famous overture preceded Rossini's famous opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) in 1816, by its inclusion in two of his previous operas: Aureliano in Palmira (1813), and Elisabetta, regina d'inghilterra (Queen Elizabeth of England) (1815). However it is lovingly remembered as the Overture to the Barber of Seville.

The Barber of Seville was a two act opera buffa (comic opera) with a libretto by Sterbini. It was based on the famous comedy by Beaumarchais¹. Rossini's opera failed at first but soon recovered to become one of the most loved of all comic operas.

The story has been repeated in operas by many composers including Elsberger (1783), Benda (1785), Schulz (1786), Paisiello (1816), Morlacchi (1816), and Graffigna (1879).

The overture surely remains one of the best known in the concert repertoire. It is an exciting seven and a half minutes of music which seldom fails to please. We hope you have enjoyed our MusicSmiles arrangement of a short selection from Gioacchino Rossini's masterpiece.

Now would you like to trot towards  William Tell Gallop  . . .?

1.    Footnote: Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was born in Paris in 1732, and died in Paris in 1799. This French playwright and musician was an accomplished flautist and harpist. His most enduring works were as author of two plays: Le Barbier de Seville (1775), and its sequel La Folle Journee, ou Le Marriage de Figaro (1784). Le Barbier was originally intended as a comic opera with music by Beaumarchais adapted from Spanish airs. Both works were highly inspirational to other writers and composers, Mozart and Rossini to name but two. Return to story.

( Click number to view statistics > > >). Scribe thanks all our  223,547 MusicSmiles visitors up to beginning of September, 2010. 

You may find our special effects work best with Microsoft Internet Explorer