Last night, rather than watch the remainder of Mozart's funny as a crutch Abduction from the Seraglio, I watched Act One of the Glyndebourne production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville with Maria Ewing, Max-René Cosotti, and John Rawnsley. This was written about 30 years after Seraglio, and it's funny in all departments: the plot and situations are funny and Rossini's music is funny. The Act One finale, from the drunk soldier's arrival (actually the romantic lead in disguise) to the arrival of the police, is absolutely brilliant.
I do love Mozart, and his Marriage of Figaro is a brilliant comedy, but he sure missed the boat on The Seraglio.