Italian opera in bringing the art form back to life again. Romantic opera, which placed emphasis on the imagination and the emotions began to appear in the early 19th century, and because of its arias and music, gave more dimension to the extreme emotions which typified the theater of that era. In addition, it is said that fine music often excused glaring faults in character drawing and plot lines. Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) initiated the Romantic period. His first success was an "opera buffa" (comic opera), "La Cambiale di Matrimonio" (1810). His reputation still survives today through his "Barber of Seville" (1816), and
Kimberly Barber debut in 2002 as Nero in Handel's "Agrippina" and her Paris Opera debut as Annio in Mozart's "La Clemenza di Tito". On November 18, 2003, Barber performed in recital with fellow mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and pianist Steven Blier at Wilfrid Laurier University's Maureen Forrester Recital Hall. In the 2006-2007 season, Barber created the role of Jessica in John Estacio’s opera "Frobisher" for Calgary Opera. Her discography includes Ravel’s L’heure espagnole on Deutsche Grammophon under André Previn, Handel’s Rinaldo on Naxos Records and a solo disc of Handel and Hasse arias for CBC Records. Kimberly Barber Kimberly Barber (born December