Met Opera Opened Il Barbiere di Siviglia Nov. 23, 1883, as 11th Opera

Summary: Met Opera opened Il Barbiere di Siviglia on Friday, Nov. 23, 1883, as the 11th premiere in the first season, 1883-1884.

The Metropolitan Opera's Rosina lineage traces back to Marcella Sembrich's performance in the opera house's inaugural season (1883-1884) premiere of Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Met Opera Guild @MetOperaGuild, via Twitter Aug. 20, 2020

Met Opera opened Il Barbiere di Siviglia on Friday, Nov. 23, 1883, as the 11th premiere in the inaugural 1883-1884 season lineup of 20 operas.

The opera buffa in due atti (comic opera in two acts) by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868) received nine performances, sung in Italian, in the Metropolitan Opera's first season, 1883-1884. The Metropolitan Opera House was the venue for the Friday, Nov. 23, premiere and the first performance, Tuesday, Dec. 4. The third performance, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1884, was held at the Boston Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. The fourth performance, Friday, Jan. 25, took place at Haverly's Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The fifth performance, Saturday, Feb. 9, was staged at the Olympic Theater in St. Louis, Missouri. The sixth performance, Friday, Feb. 29, was held at the Academy of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. The seventh performance, Saturday, March 8, took place at the Boston Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. The Metropolitan Opera House hosted the eighth performance, Monday, March 24. The venue for the ninth, closing performance, Saturday, April 19, was the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Auguste Vianesi (Nov. 2, 1837-Nov. 4, 1908) conducted the first four and the last four performances of Il Barbiere di Siviglia. The French-naturalized, northwestern Italy-born conductor had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, in the first season's inaugural premiere, Faust by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Maestro Vianesi shared the conductorship with Cleofonte Campanini (Sept. 1, 1860-Dec. 19, 1919), who conducted the fifth performance, Saturday, Feb. 9. The Italian conductor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 3, 1883, in the second performance of the first season's fifth opera, Mignon by French composer Ambroise Thomas (Aug. 5, 1811-Feb. 12, 1896).

Giuseppe Del Puente (Jan. 30, 1841-May 25, 1900) sang the title role of Figaro in all nine performances. The Italian baritone had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as Valentin in the first season's inaugural premiere, Gounod's Faust.

Marcella Sembrich (Feb. 15, 1858-Jan. 11, 1935) appeared in all nine performances as Rosina, who is the ward of dowry-obsessed, elderly Dr. Bartolo and who happily marries Count Almaviva in the last act. The Polish coloratura soprano had made her Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1883, in the title role in the inaugural season's second premiere, Lucia di Lammermoor by Italian opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Roberto Stagno (Oct. 18, 1840-April 26, 1897) appeared in first three performances as Count Almaviva, who masquerades as impoverished student Lindoro to be sure that Rosina loves him for himself, not for his money. The Italian operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 26, 1883, in the title role, Manrico, in the season's third premiere, Il Trovatore by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Roberto Stagno shared the role with Victor Capoul and Nicola Stagi. Victor Capoul (Feb. 27, 1839-Feb. 18, 1924) sang Count Almaviva in the fourth (Friday, Jan. 25), sixth (Friday, Feb. 29), seventh (Saturday, March 8) and eighth (Monday, March 24) performances. The French operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Oct. 27, 1883, in the title role in the second performance of Gounod's Faust.

Nicola Stagi sang Count Almaviva in the fifth (Saturday, Feb. 9) and ninth, closing (Saturday, April 19) performances. The Metropolitan Opera Archives Database (MetOpera Database) notes that Nicola Stagi's appearance in the Il Barbiere di Siviglia's closing performance marked his last Met Opera performance. The Italian tenor had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Nov. 19, as Raimbaut in the first season's 10th premiere, Robert le Diable by German Jewish opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (Sept. 5, 1791-May 2, 1864).

Baldassare Corsini appeared in all nine performances as Dr. Bartolo, whose designs on his ward, Rosina, really concern Rosina's attractive dowry. He had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as Wagner in the season's inaugural premiere, Gounod's Faust.

Giovanni Mirabella sang Don Basilio, Rosina's music teacher, in all nine performances. The MetOpera Database notes his appearance in the ninth, closing performance as Giovanni Mirabella's last Met Opera performance. The Florentine bass had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 29, 1883, as Giorgio in the opening season's fourth premiere, I Puritani by 19th century Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sept. 23, 1835).

Emilie Deméric-Lablache (Oct. 6, 1830-?), credited as Emily Lablache, sang Berta, Dr. Bartolo's housekeeper, in all nine performances. The French mezzo-soprano-contralto had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Nov. 5, as Flora in the opening season's sixth premiere, Verdi's La Traviata.

Ludovico Contini sang Fiorello, Count Almaviva's servant, in all nine performances. The MetOpera Database notes his appearance in the closing performance as Ludovico Contini's last Met Opera performance. He had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as Wagner in the season's inaugural premiere, Gounod's Faust.

Amadeo Grazzi appeared in all nine performances as the Officer of the Watch, who investigates the disturbance created by Count Almaviva in his disguise as an intoxicated soldier. He had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1883, as Normanno in the season's second premiere, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia was directed by Mr. Corani (Henry De Courtney Corani, ca. 1849-May 1905) and Mr. Abbiati. The production's sets were designed by Charles Fox, Jr., William Schaeffer, Gaspar Maeder (ca. 1840-Jan. 18, 1892) and Mr. Thompson. The production's costume designers were Henry Dazian (May 3, 1854-May 4, 1937) and D. Ascoli. Il Barbiere di Siviglia's directors, set designers and costume designers had all made their Met Opera debuts Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, in the season's inaugural premiere, Gounod's Faust.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia premiered Friday, Nov. 23, 1883, as the first season's 11th opera and as the only Rossini opera staged in the Metropolitan Opera's inaugural season, 1883-1884. Don Giovanni, by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791), succeeded Il Barbiere di Siviglia as the 12th first season premiere. Don Giovanni premiered Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1883.

The takeaways for Met Opera's premiere of Il Barbiere di Siviglia are that the opera buffa in due atti (comic opera in two acts) was staged as the 11th opera in Met Opera's inaugural season, 1883-1884; that the happy-ending opera received nine performances; and that Il Barbiere di Siviglia was the only Gioachino Rossini opera included in the inaugural season lineup of 20 operas.

After originating Rossini's Rosina in the Metropolitan Opera's inaugural season, 1883-1884, Marcella Sembrich reprised the role for nine more seasons (1898-1899, 1899-1900, 1901-1902, 1902-1903, 1903-1904, 1904-1905, 1905-1906, 1907-1908, 1909-1910): The Sembrich @TheSembrich, via Facebook Dec. 26, 2019

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

The Metropolitan Opera's Rosina lineage traces back to Marcella Sembrich's performance in the opera house's inaugural season (1883-1884) premiere of Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Met Opera Guild @MetOperaGuild, via Twitter Aug. 20, 2020, @ https://twitter.com/MetOperaGuild/status/1296483399113285634/photo/1

After originating Rossini's Rosina in the Metropolitan Opera's inaugural season, 1883-1884, Marcella Sembrich reprised the role for nine more seasons (1898-1899, 1899-1900, 1901-1902, 1902-1903, 1903-1904, 1904-1905, 1905-1906, 1907-1908, 1909-1910): The Sembrich @TheSembrich, via Facebook Dec. 26, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/TheSembrich/photos/a.2208163542582491/2587976781267830/

For further information:

“Debut: Cleofonte Campanini.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1070 Mignon {2} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/3/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1070

"Debut: Emily Lablache, Giuseppe Barberis, Malvina Cavalazzi." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:1080 Metropolitan Opera Premiere La Traviata {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/5/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1080

"Debut: Giovanni Mirabella, Ida Corani." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1040 Metropolitan Opera Premiere I Puritani {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/29/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1040

"Debut: Nicola Stagi." Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Robert le Diable.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1180 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Robert le Diable {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/19/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1180

Debut: Roberto Stagno, Alwina Valleria, Zelia Trebelli." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1020 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Il Trovatore {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/26/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1020

"Debuts: Italo Campanini, Christine Nilsson, Franco Novara, Giuseppe Del Puente, Sofia Scalchi, Louise Lablache, Ludovico Contini, Auguste Vianesi, Mr. Corani, Mr. Abbiati, Charles Fox, Jr., William Schaeffer, Gaspar Maeder, Mr. Thompson, D. Ascoli, Henry Dazian." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:1000 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Faust {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/22/1883. Metropolitan Opera Premiere Opening Night {1}.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1000

"Debuts: Marcella Sembrich, Giuseppe Kaschmann, Achille Augier, Amadeo Grazzi, Imogene Forti, Vincenzo Fornaris." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1010 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Lucia di Lammermoor {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/24/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1010

Marriner, Derdriu. "Il Barbiere di Siviglia Is the Jan. 28, 2017, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/il-barbiere-di-siviglia-is-jan-28-2017.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Metropolitan Opera Premiered 20 Operas During Opening Season 1883-1884." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 14, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/10/metropolitan-opera-premiered-20-operas.html

Met Opera Guild @MetOperaGuild. "Today's #OperaThroughTheYears showcases the clever #Rosina from #Rossini's #IlBarbiereDiSiviglia: #MarcellaSembrich (1883) #LilyPons (1930) #ReriGrist (1966) #MarilynHorne (1982) #IsabelLeonard (2011) #CostumeDesign by Ascoli, Dazian, Berman, Zipprodt & Zuber. #BelCanto #TBT." Twitter. Aug. 20, 2020.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOperaGuild/status/1296483399113285634/photo/1

The Metropolitan Opera Guild @metropolitanoperaguild. "Don't be like Dr. Bartolo and let these girlish frills distract you from Rosina's cleverness! Today's #OperaThroughTheYears showcases the heroine from Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia from the opera's Met premiere through the current production. Marcella Sembrich (1883) Lily Pons (1930) Reri Grist (1966) Marilyn Horne (1982) Isabel Leonard (2011) Costume designs by D. Ascoli, Henry Dazian, Eugene Berman, Patricia Zipprodt and Catherine Zuber. #IlBarbiereDiSiviglia #Rossini #Rosina #MarcellaSembrich #LilyPons #ReriGrist #MarilynHorne #IsabelLeonard #BelCanto #CostumeDesign #TBT." Facebook. Aug. 20, 2020.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/metropolitanoperaguild/photos/a.10150144873997754/10159000219387754/

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere Il Barbiere di Siviglia." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1200 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Il Barbiere di Siviglia {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/23/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1200

Rous, Samuel Holland. The Victrola Book of the Opera: Stories of One Hundred and Twenty Operas With Seven-Hundred Illustrations and Descriptions of Twelve-Hundred Victor Opera Records. Fourth revised edition. Camden NJ: Victor Talking Machine Company, 1917.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/victrolabookofop00vict

The Sembrich @TheSembrich. "Donate today and be a part of preserving these incredible costumes! We’re almost to our goal! Every donation & share counts! https://secure.givelively.org/donate/marcella-sembrich-memorial-association-inc/help-preserve-the-sembrich-costume-collection The costume below was worn by Madame Sembrich for her portrayal of Rosina in Rossini’s 'The Barber of Seville.'" Facebook. Dec. 26, 2019.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/TheSembrich/photos/a.2208163542582491/2587976781267830/