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Written in haste and greeted with a disastrous opening night, Rossini's The Barber of Seville nevertheless went on to huge success and has remained prominent and popular in the repertoires of opera houses around the world. For large numbers of music lovers it stands as Rossini's finest work: his masterpiece. In today's programme Donald Macleod explores the stories behind Rossini's famous Barber.

The Barber of Seville ("Largo al Factotum")
Tito Gobbi, baritone (Figaro)
Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Alceo Galliera

Torvaldo e Dorliska (Act I, Sc 3)
Michele Bianchini, bass (Duca d'Ordow)
ARS Brunensis Chamber Choir & Czech Chamber Soloists, conducted by Alessandro de Marchi

The Barber of Seville, Overture
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado

The Barber of Seville ("Una voce poco fa...")
Maria Callas, soprano (Rosina)
Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Alceo Galliera

Barber of Seville (Act 1, Finale)
Sonia Ganassi, soprano (Rosina); Ramon Vargas, tenor (Conte Almaviva); Roberto Servile, baritone (Figaro); Angelo Romero, baritone (Bartolo); Franco de Grandis, bass (Don Basilio); Ingrid Kertesi, soprano (Berta)
Hungarian Radio Chorus & Failoni Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Will Humburg

The Barber of Seville ("First the doctor wants to marry...")
Jennifer Rhys-Davies, soprano (Berta)
Chorus and Orchestra of the English National Opera, conducted by Gabriele Bellini

The Barber of Seville ("Di si felice innesto")
Maria Callas, soprano (Rosina); Luigi Alva, tenor (Conte Almaviva); Tito Gobbi, baritone (Figaro); Fritz Ollendorf, bass (Bartolo); Nicola Zaccaria, bass (Don Basilio); Gabriella Carturan, mezzo-soprano (Berta)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Alceo Galliera.