The Barber of Seville (Overture) - Rossini

Rossini's 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia' (1816) is one of the greatest of all comic operas. Based on an excellent play by Beaumarchais, The 'Barber of Seville' delights audiences with its keenly sketched characters, melodic elegance, rhythmic exhilaration, superb ensemble writing and original en delightful orchestration. The spontaneity of the score is such that one has an impression of music spouting from his pen, as it were, under high pressure. This spontaneity has contributed that the overture itself has conquered the concert repertoire and is nowadays an often played opening piece at many concerts.