In 1868, Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini, famed for his operatic comedies such as "The Barber of Seville, " died.

CNN: Wednesday,

The decision to make opera his life came at 15, says Mr. Joel, after the emotional "shock" of seeing a brilliant performance of "The Barber of Seville" in Salzburg.

WSJ: Raising the Opera Curtain: A Bird's-Eye View of the Palais Garnier