<p>The première in 1816 in Rome of Gioachino Rossini's famous opera was a fiasco comparable to those of Wagner's Tannhäuser and Bizet's Carmen. But Il barbiere di Siviglia was soon recognised as being among the greatest of comic operas, comparable to those of Mozart. Even Beethoven was enthusiastic.<br><br>Figaro, Seville's barber, is confident of a good pay-off for facilitating the elopement of Rosina with the Count of Almaviva. Her guardian als...