The Barber of Seville by Rossini, Alkaen (2021/2022), Ohjannut Sandro Santillo, Musiikinjohto Ondrej Olos, Luca De Marchi, Špilberk Castle, Brno, Czech Republic

I am the soul of the whole city! In 1815 Rossius (1792-1868) was visited by Duke Francesco Sforza-Cesarini, impresario of the famous Roman theater di Torre Argentina. The composer undertook to set to music the libretto presented to him by the duke, and a month later to deliver the finished score. The subject needed to be approved by the censors, which proved to be very difficult. All submitted librettos were rejected - except for the Barber of Seville. Rossini was not enthusiastic about this, because there was another Barber of Seville, whose author was the renowned doyen Giovanni Paisiello. Rossini was well aware that the old maestro and his opera had a number of supporters who might be uncomfortable with the release of the new work. So he wrote a polite letter to Paisiell, humbly explaining why he dared to compose an opera on the same subject. Paisiello replied that he warmly welcomed the intention: he quietly assumed that the opera would fail. He wasn't wrong. When it premiered in 1816, the opera actually ended in fiasco. That evening, however, none of the spectators knew that he had just whistled at one of the most famous and popular operas of the future.