Why did the premiere of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville receive a hostile response?

The premiere of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville on February 20, 1816, was a disaster due to a combination of logistical failures and targeted sabotage.12

The hostile reception was primarily driven by supporters of the composer Giovanni Paisiello, who had previously written a popular opera based on the same Beaumarchais play. These supporters viewed Rossini’s new work as an affront to Paisiello and attended the premiere specifically to disrupt the performance with heckling, hissing, and booing.12

Beyond the organized protest, the production itself was poorly prepared. The music had been completed at the last minute, leaving the cast with insufficient rehearsal time. The opening night was further marred by various mishaps and pranks, contributing to the overall failure of the debut. Despite this initial humiliation, the opera quickly found success, with audiences at the second performance proving far more receptive.12