Date of Award
In the 1770's and 1780's two plays written by a Frenchman named Beaumarchais were creating quite a stir in Europe. They challenged and ridiculed the inherent "superiority" of the aristocrats of French society. Later called "the prelude to the French Revolution," these plays were quite controversial and therefore immensely popular. The Barber of Seville and its sequel, The Marriage of Figaro, became instantly well known and both were adapted for opera, the former by Giovanni Paisiello, the latter by Wolfgang A. Mozart.
Hardin, Philip Wayne, "The Significance of Characterization in the Preparation and Composition of "The Marriage of Figaro"" (1973). Honors Theses. 567.