Rossini in 1820. Courtesy/SFOG

SFOG News:

Santa Fe Opera Guild (SFOG) announces ‘Rossini Sticks Neck Out With The Barber of Seville, Nearly Gets Nicked’, presented by Mark Tiarks, 3-4 p.m. (check-in 2:50 p.m.) Wednesday, April 6, virtually on Zoom.

This presentation is complementary for Guild Members; $10 per device for non-members.

Rossini rolled the dice when he wrote The Barber of Seville in 1816. It was a cheeky maneuver by the 23-year-old, since the much older and greatly admired composer Giovanni Paisiello had written a still-popular opera on the same subject in 1782.

The opening might of Rossini’s opera was one of the most famous fiascos in opera history, leaving the young composer despondent, and by the end of the second performance Rossini feared that he might not live to see another day.

This talk focuses on key scenes from the two operas, which are very similar in structure, with video excerpts showing how the two composers developed the same material in their own unique ways.

Tiarks has enjoyed a distinguished career in opera and theatre production spanning more than four decades. He is the Santa Fe New Mexican’s classical music critic.

For information online and to register go here.