The Barber of Seville: “Ecco ridente in cielo”

“Ecco ridente in cielo” is Count Almaviva's cavatina from Gioachino Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville.

In The Barber of Seville, irrepressible Rosina refuses to marry her pompous old guardian. Meanwhile, a bold young count is eager to win Rosina for himself. And who’s going to make sure those two finish the opera united? The cleverest character in all of Seville: the barber Figaro, whose services are sought after by everyone for everything (the guy has a lot more talents than just cutting hair). Rossini’s music—the aural equivalent of champagne—is the last word in humor, inspiring smiles and laughter on every page of the score, which is what makes Barber the most popular of all operatic comedies.

Here, at dawn, Count Almaviva (Lawrence Brownlee), in love with Rosina, offers a serenade under her window.

Song title: “Ecco ridente in cielo”

Opera: The Barber of Seville

Composer: Gioachino Rossini

Year Written: 1813

Language: Italian

Performance dates: September 28 – October 27, 2019

Artists: Lawrence Brownlee (Count Almaviva) and the Lyric Opera Orchestra under Maestro Sir Andrew Davis

Special thanks to the Chicago Federation of Musicians local 10-208 and artists of the American Guild of Musical Artists.