Il barbiere di Siviglia

Since the very first listening and first careful reading of Rossini’s masterpiece, I felt the need to relocate the chaotic events of this special day for Figaro and his companions, in an environment that could help the booklet and the music to have full vent.

Without wishing in any way to detract anything from the daring and exciting development of the story, I could not help focusing my attention on the music, and therefore on its author.
Rossini lived most of his life in the city of Paris, as a “bon vivant” lover of good food and beautiful women. It is easy to imagine Rossini as a frequent visitor to those historic spots known as “Café Chantant”.

First seen in Paris towards the end of the 18th century, by the time the Barber of Seville debuted in Rome at the Argentina theater in 1816, the café chantant had already reached an important social and cultural relevance, spreading later also to other European countries such as England, Austria, Germany, Russia and Spain.

From the “Cafés” to the “Barber” the step is short: the coffee-theater, Rosina’s dressing room, the rehearsal room and the game is up! Therefore, in a time just before the third French republic, in a mysterious, fascinating and mellow Seville recalling the wonderful paintings of Fourny: Bartolo becomes the impresario, Berta the seamstress with secret artistic ambitions, the count a wealthy client and Rosina the jewel in the crown of the show and … Figaro? Well. Figaro is and will always be: “il faccendier di casa” “the factotum of the house”.