Garde hosts "The Barber of Seville"

Who: Teatro Lirico D'Europa has become a familiar presence at the Garde Arts Center ever since its first performance here a dozen years ago. That was when the company, which was founded in 1988, booked its first major American tour. It's returned to New London often since then, with its "La Boheme" a year ago followed up with its performance of "The Barber of Seville" coming up Saturday.

What: That Rossini was a clever one. Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" proved so popular that Rossini created a prequel. Mozart's was based on the second of French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais' Figaro trilogy, while Rossini's took its story from the first. Here, the character of Figaro jumps in to help Count Almaviva wrest the lovely Rosina from her guardian.

And more: Teatro Lirico d'Europa will perform this comic opera in Italian with English supertitles - accompanied by a full orchestra.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

"Barber of Seville," 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Garde Arts Center,

325 State St., New London; Teatro Lirico d'Europa; $56;

(860) 444-7373, gardearts.org.