The Barber of Seville opera at the Teatro Argentina in Rome was a disaster: the audience hissed and jeered throughout, and several on-stage accidents occurred. Furthermore, many of the audience were supporters of one of Rossini's rivals, Giovanni Paisiello, who played on mob mentality to provoke the rest of the audience to dislike the opera. Paisiello had already composed "The Barber of Seville" and took Rossini's new version to be an affront to his version. In particular, Paisiello and his followers were opposed to the use of basso buffo, which is common in comic opera. The second performance, however, was successful. The original French
The Blind Man of Seville The Blind Man of Seville The Blind Man of Seville is a 2003 crime novel and thriller by British writer Robert Wilson. The novel is set in the Spanish city of Seville, and is the first book in a quartet featuring protagonist Javier Falcón. The novel was published to much acclaim, and was shortlisted for the 2003 Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year. It is Holy Week in Seville – "Semana Santa", the Easter week of passion and processions. A leading restaurateur is found bound, gagged and dead in front of his television set. The self-inflicted wounds