The complexity of Rossini’s masterpiece, opéra comique par excellence, goes far beyond its hilarity; its sophisticated mechanism is so well structured that it seems simple and natural. 
Written in a record thirteen days, as recognised by the author himself, with the original title of Almaviva, ossia l'Inutile precauzione (Almaviva or the useless precaution) to avoid the coincidence with the opera Il barbiere di Siviglia (Saint Petersburg, 1782) by Giovanni Paisiello, its premiere was a disaster. The second performance, however, was an absolute success. Although its predecessor prevailed for some time, only Rossini’s opera has withstood the test of time as part of the universal opera repertoire, and it is the most performed opera in history. Its magnificent numbers for ensembles, arias and orchestral effects constitute a true collection of paradigms full of ingenuity and creativity. The overture’s energetic, uplifting and funny character, which is often performed as a concert piece, prepares the audience psychologically for the atmosphere in which the opera unfolds. This vital and sophisticated music elevates to quintessence the astute, picaresque and iconic Figaro, the main character of BeauMarchais’ Andalusian trilogy, taken from the commedia dell´arte and effectively imbedded in the collective imagination.