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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

The Barber of Seville: First Night Fiasco

1/1/2020

 
Map
Teatro di Argentina, Rome
Teatro di Argentina

Built in 1731, on the site of the ancient Theatre of Pompey, the Teatro di Argentina is one of the oldest theatres in Rome. 

On February 20th, 1816, the Teatro di Argentina was the venue for the premiere of one of the world's most popular operas, Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia (
The Barber of Seville). However, on its opening night the opera was anything but a success, with some of the audience hissing and jeering throughout the performance! 

The Barber of Seville had been commissioned by the theatre's impresario, towards the end of 1815, when Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was only twenty-three years old. Based on the play of the same name by the French writer
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-99), it was first called Almaviva, in deference to the popular composer Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816), who, in 1782, had himself turned the play into an opera.

It was Paisiello's supporters who were largely responsible for the fiasco at the first night.  On the second night, in the absence of this claque, Rossini's opera was acclaimed a triumph and the audience gathered outside the young composer's house to cheer. Rossini
 was then living nearby in Via dei Leutari, where a plaque records his stay. 

Plaque to the composer Gioacchino Rossini, Via dei Leutari, Rome
Plaque to Gioacchino Rossini, Via dei Leutari
Teatro di Argentina, Rome
To the arts of Theatre (Melpomene), Music (Euterpe) & Dance (Tersicore)

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
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      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
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    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
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    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
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    • Mosaics
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    • Ancient Rome
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    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque