FIGARO is a barber who offers customers more than 'something for the weekend'. He can actually set them up on a date.

First performed in Rome in 1816, The Barber of Seville established the young Gioacchino Rossini as the main man of Italian comic opera.

The story will be told again in Cardiff this autumn by Welsh National Opera.

The mischievous Figaro resolves to help the love-struck Count Almaviva win the hand of the beautiful Rosina.

The count and his barber use their guile to outwit Rosina's possessive guardian, Dr Bartolo, who has designs on Rosina himself.

It is basically a farce, with pranks, madcap disguises and a few close shaves.

The WNO version, sung in English, is a revival of Giles Havergal's popular 1986 production.

Two American singers head the cast. Baritone Mel Ulrich makes his UK debut in the title role. And Paula Rasmussen joins WNO for the first time as Rosina.

Paula recently sung Carmen in Cologne and has worked in New York and Bavaria.

Donald Maxwell is Dr Bartolo and Alan Fairs is Count Almaviva.

Performances are conducted by WNO's Antony Walker.

The opera is a co-production with Opera North and Vancouver Opera.

Pucinni's La Boheme, Beethoven's and Berlioz's Beatrice complete WNO's selection of works for the autumn.

The South Wales Argus will review each production and each will be individually previewed here in Mono.

The Barber of Seville is at the New Theatre on October 1 and 5.

Tickets £8-£35.50. Box office: 029 20 878889.