La pietra del paragone La pietra del paragone La pietra del paragone (The Touchstone) is an opera, or melodramma giocoso, in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, to an original Italian libretto by Luigi Romanelli. "La pietra del paragone" was first performed at La Scala, Milan, on 26 September 1812. It was the composer's first commission from a major opera house and was an instant success, being performed 53 times during its first season. Napoleon's Viceroy in Milan, Eugène de Beauharnais, was so impressed by the opera that he wrote to the Minister of the Interior, "You will kindly arrange for Maestro Joachin Rossini to
Central City Opera House picture theatre. The Opera House closed in 1927. The opera house was donated to the University of Denver in May 1931 by MacFarlane's heirs and restoration was organized by the newly formed Central City Opera House Association. The summer of 1932, actress Lillian Gish opened the newly restored opera house with "Camille". It began a tradition of offering summer opera and theater festivals, which have become nationally recognized. The Central City Opera company was also formed that year. It is fifth the oldest opera company in the United States. One of its popular performances is "The Ballad of Baby Doe",