Programs · Episode

ROSSINI: The Barber of Seville

Program: At the Opera
Aired: Saturday, May 25, 2019 @ 6:00 pm
Hosted by Lisa Simeone

There may be no such thing as artistic perfection, but with The Barber of Seville Rossini surely came as close as anyone to creating a flawless operatic comedy.  This time on At The Opera, we hear it through some of the finest recordings of the opera ever made.

Featured Recordings:

Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Alceo Galliera, conductor
(EMI 563310)
CAST: Maria Callas (Rosini); Luigi Alva (Count Almaviva); Tito Gobbi (Figaro); Fritz Ollendorff (Bartolo); Nicola Zaccaria (Basilio)

Giuseppe Patane, conductor
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Comunale, Bologna
(London 425520)
CAST: Cecilia Bartoli (Rosini); William Matteuzzi (Count Almaviva); Leo Nucci (Figaro); Enrico Fissore (Bartolo); Paata Burchaladze (Basilio)

London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Claudio Abbado, conductor
(DG 457733)
CAST: Teresa Berganza (Rosini); Luigi Alva (Count Almaviva); Hermann Prey (Figaro); Enzo Dara (Bartolo); Paolo Montarsolo (Basilio)

Munich Radio Orchestra
Ralf Weikert, conductor
(Nightingale 004022)
CAST: Edita Gruberova (Rosini); Juan Diego Flórez (Count Almaviva); Vladimir Chernov (Figaro); Enric Serra (Bartolo); Francesco Ellera d'Artegna (Basilio)

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