200 years ago ...

[Semper Victor]

Today is the 200th anniversary of the premiere of one of the best and most popualr operas of the comic repertoire: Il barbiere di Siviglia by Gioacchino Rossini, premiered at the Teatro Argentina in Rome on February 20 1816. Some of the best moments in this opera:

Figaro's Cavatina of Act I, Largo al factotum:

Basilio's Aria of Act I, La calumnia è un venticello:

Closing scene of Act I, recitative by Rosina and Bartolo and Bartolo's Aria, A un dottor della mia sorte:

 

[nerd]

They look {and sound} like they sat on a foreign object.

 

[gladius2metal]

They look {and sound} like they sat on a foreign object.

one person (forgot who) said once: Body-building and opera-singing are fascinating in terms of what you can do with the human body, but besides that I don't find them particular interesting... (I think the original was about half the size, but couldn't find it

 

[Sarmatia1871]

Meanwhile, two hundred years ago today, Whitwell Elwin was born:

 

[nerd]

Meanwhile, two hundred years ago today, Whitwell Elwin was born:

and we should care?