IL Barbiere Di Siviglia (the Barber of Seville): A Comic Opera in Two Acts (Classic Reprint) - Tapa dura

Excerpt from IL Barbiere Di Siviglia (the Barber of Seville): A Comic Opera in Two Acts

Paisiello gave his consent to the use of the subject, believing that the opera of his young rival would assuredly fail. At the same time he wrote to a friend in Rome asking him to do all in his power to compass a fiasco for the opera. The young composer's enemies were not sluggish. All the whistlers of Italy, says castil-blaze, seemed to have made a rendezvous at the Teatro Argentina on the night set down for the first production. Their malicious intentions were helped along by accidents at the outset of the performance. Details of the story have been preserved for us in an account written by Signora Giorgi Righetti, who sang the part of Rosina on the memorable occasion. Garcia had persuaded Rossini to permit him to sing a Spanish song to his own accompani ment on a guitar under Rosina's balcony in the first act. It would provide the needed local color, he urged. When about to start his song, Garcia found that he had forgotten to tune his guitar. He began to set the pegs in the face of the waiting public. A string broke and a new one was drawn up amid the titters of the spectators. The song did not please the auditors, who mocked at the singer by humming Spanish fiorituri after him. Boisterous laughter broke out when Figaro came on the stage also with a guitar, and Largo al factotum was lost in the din. Another howl of delighted derision went up when Rosina's voice was heard from within singing Segni, o caro, den segni cos) Continue, my dear, continue thus The audience continued thus. The representative of Rosina was popular, but the fact that she was first heard in a trifling phrase instead of an aria caused disappointment. The duet between Almavi'va and Figaro was sung amid hisses, shrieks and shouts. The cavatina Una vote pow fa got a triple round of applause, however, and Rossini, interpreting the fact as a compliment to the personality of the singer rather than to the music, after bow ing to the public, exclaimed 0k, natura Thank her, retorted Giorgi Righetti but for her you would not have had occasion to rise from your chair.

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