Here’s what you need to know about ENO’s classic production of _[The Barber
of Seville](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-barber-of-seville/)._
## It’s a comic masterpiece by Rossini
_The Barber of Seville_ (in Italian _Il barbiere di Siviglia)_ is an opera in
four acts by Italian composer [Gioachino
Rossini](https://www.eno.org/composers/gioachino-rossini/). Despite a
disastrous opening night – the music teacher tripped over and had a prolonged
nosebleed and an unexpected cat wandered on stage – it has gone on to be
‘perhaps the greatest of all comic operas’. Indeed, Rossini himself stayed at
home for the second night, until he was awoken by the sound of applause and
cheering and his opera has delighted audiences ever since.
Based on a play called _Le Barbier de Séville_ by French playwright Pierre
Beaumarchais, this is the first of three plays about a character called
Figaro.
His second play, _Le Mariage de Figaro_ , was the inspiration for another
opera – _[The Marriage of Figaro](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-marriage-of-
figaro/)_ by Austrian composer [Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart](https://www.eno.org/composers/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/). Rossini’s
_The Barber of Seville_ , therefore, is considered a prequel to the story of
Mozart’s opera, although it was composed 30 years later.
The story follows the escapades of a barber, Figaro, as he assists Count
Almaviva in prising the beautiful Rosina away from her lecherous guardian, Dr
Bartolo.
## Our production is a feast of frivolous fun!
★★★★ ‘Sheer delight’ _The Guardian_ | ★★★★ ‘A national institution’ _The Daily Telegraph_
First staged in 1987, our production in 2023 is a revival of an opera
originally directed by titian of stage [Sir Jonathan
Miller](https://www.eno.org/artists/jonathan-miller/). This is an iconic
production loved by our audiences for forty years. Watch the trailer to get an
idea of what it’s all about:
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/CD5FnjEW6os?feature=oembed)
Video
Sir Jonathan Miller had a more than 30-year relationship with ENO, where his
productions have included _[Rigoletto](https://www.eno.org/operas/rigoletto/),
[The Mikado](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-mikado/),
[Carmen](https://www.eno.org/operas/carmen/), Der Rosenkavalier, [La
traviata](https://www.eno.org/operas/la-traviata/), [La
bohème](https://www.eno.org/operas/la-boheme/)_ and [ _The Elixir of
Love_](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-elixir-of-love/). In addition to his
international work an opera director, he also worked for theatres in London,
Europe and the USA.
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Photo Gallery
## You’ve probably heard it before
_The Barber of Seville_ is full of great tunes that are all incredibly
familiar, including the fast, jaunty overture and Figaro’s famous aria, ‘Make
way for the servant who does everything’ (‘Largo al factotum’).
Rossini’s overture is perfectly matched for a high-speed cartoon chase:
_Looney Tunes_ released a classic cartoon episode called ‘The Rabbit of
Seville’ created in 1950. After the usual chasing around, Bugs Bunny manages
to give Elmer Fudd a clean shave to the soundtrack of Rossini’s overture.
The opera’s best known aria, ‘Make way for the servant who does everything’
(‘Largo al factotum’) is sung by the title character, named Figaro, on his
entrance has also been a cartoon score, this time for the cartoon, _Tom &
Jerry_. Figaro sings his own praises – ‘bravo Figaro, bravo, bravissimo!’ –
and shows how in demand he is!
##
## If you liked this, you’ll love Mozart’s ‘sequel’
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/TFjVvV4QBzk?feature=oembed)
Video