The 1815 masterpiece 'Il Barbiere Di Siviglia' is widely considered the greatest of comic operas. The libretto of 'The Barber of Seville' was adapted by Cesore Sterbini from the first of a trilogy of plays by the French dramatistBeaumarchais considered highly subversive for their depiction of nobility as buffoons dependant on and manipulated by their wily servants. The plot involves the efforts of the amorous young Count Almaviva to woo and win thelovely Rosina in the process outwitting her ward Dr. Bartolo who fancies her for himself. Rosina's aria 'Una voce poco fa' is probably the most popular of all coloratura arias. This is the Schirmer edition of the Vocal Scoreand is in Italian with an English translation by Ruth and Thomas Martin and notes and essays Robert Laerence and Estelle Liebling. This is the Schirmer edition of the Libretto in Italian with an English translation byRuth and Thomas Martin.
