So, last night Friend Anne and I watched The Barber of Seville. It is a cousin of the Marriage of Figaro, which is by a entirely different composer. Both use the same set of characters, given they are both based on the same backstory.
I’ve only ever heard the “Figaro” song from this opera (“Figaro Figaro Figaro FigaroFigaroFigaroFigaro Fiig-aaaa-roooo.” That one.)
It had the same cocky royal barber character you see in the town square in Sweeney Todd, which is based on a really old story too. Barbers must have been fascinating people: part doctor, part celebrity stylist.
I wonder if there are other barber-based works beyond the two Figaro operas and Sweeney Todd. It seems like there should be a barber in Shakespeare or something.