Rossini: La pietra del paragone

With its competing lovers, exotic disguises, and an ingenious experiment to test the power of love itself, the plot of Rossini's Il Pietro di Paragone is reminiscent of Mozart's Così fan tutte. But Rossini has a style that's entirely his own, and this lively rom-com made him famous overnight when it opened in Milan in September 1812. This rare modern revival from the Teatro Real, Madrid, united two masters of Rossini's effervescent brand of comedy, conductor Alberto Zedda and director Pier Luigi Pizzi. The result is an updating that's as witty as it is inventive, with a delightful ensemble cast.