Barbiere is justifiably one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire and is perhaps the quintessential operatic comedy. An exhilarating music and the hilarious situation comedy combine to create a great masterpiece.
Fiiiiiiiiigaro’s big aria
Everyone knows this confident performance of Figaro, who pretends to be a fun-loving and shrewd barber.
You will hear Figaro’s famous “largo al factotum” in three variations. Each from a different era. We start again with a recent example by Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostoksy:
Largo al factotum – Hvorostovski
Una voce poco fa: the coloratura aria of Rosina
As usual, this opening aria is divided into two parts: a slow cavatina and fast cabaletta. The melody of the fast part had an amazing career in Rossini’s oeuvre. First he used it in the warlike “Palmyra”, then in the lovelorn “Elisabetta”, until it reached the throat of Rosina.
The role of Rosina was sung for a long time in the 20th century by coloratura sopranos (usually set higher). Teresa Berganza began singing this aria again in the late 1960s as a coloratura alto in the fach for which the piece was originally written by Rossini.
Una voce poco fa – Berganza
Rossini the Ensemble Composer
This ensemble is a musical chaos. Everyone gives their version of what is happening in a fugato. The excitement builds and builds, culminating in a riveting stretta.
You are listening to an excerpt from a masterful complete recording (Marriner). Fireworks on the stage.
Ma signor…zitto tu – Florez / di Donato / Mattei / del Carlo
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