A fine mid-70's performance of Rossini's delight. Guarrera was a versatile baritone whose singing and acting talents sparked up the New York opera scene (and many MET tours.....He was my first Tonio in "I Pagliacci" in Memphis with the MET in the late 50's.) He proves a delightful Figaro. Enrico De Giuseppe proves an ardent, sweet-voiced Almaviva. And Gail Robinson, a fellow Mississippi native whom I was never fortunate enough to hear live) is about as good a "soprano" Rosina as one could want. Sound is good but a bit distant at times. All in all, a very fun performance of one of opera's greatest comedies.

This performance begins with a touching tribute to Richard Tucker who had just passed away. It continues with a delightfully old-fashioned romp through one of Rossini's most familiar scores - and I mean old-fashioned in the best sense. No one is trying to prove anything or make Rossini's farce into some form of social commentary. The audience is thoroughly enjoying itself.By this point in his career, Guarrera's voice isn't as solid as it once was, but he still has all of Figaro's high notes. More importantly, he knows how to sell his role, where the comic bits are, where to hold for laughs. Di Giuseppe may not have Juan Diego Florez's coloratura ability (some of his runs are a little smeary), but again he knows how the part goes and demonstrates why he was such a busy tenor for three decades. Gail Robinson is superb. Her high notes, trills (real ones), and passagework are all thrilling. She too knows what she's about. She takes all the high options without being obnoxious about it.Irwin Densen was a NYCO comprimario, but here gets to show off his fine voice. Michael Li-Paz is a funny Bartolo who, thankfully, doesn't go overboard. The edition of the score is the usual one of that period i.e. no "Cessa di piu resistere" and the Proch variations in place of "Contro un cor" (Robinson sings them brilliantly).The sound (from an in-house tape) is very listenable; one can always hear the singers. Any admirers of these singers, especially Robinson, should snap this up!

I liked this Barbiere, all singers are excellent especially Robinson, Guarerra and di Giusepe. It is very funny as Barbiere should be. You can hear audience roaring of laughter.