History of "The Barber of Seville"

Historically, barbers were the precursors to surgeons and as such they were much respected by their community. Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia is a two-act comic opera founded upon the text Le Barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais. The opera has stood the test of time and consistently ranks amongst the top five of most performed operas along with Madama Butterfly, La Bohème, La Traviata and Carmen. The most popular and recognizable music are the Overture, Figaro's celebrated “Largo al factotum”, Rosina's aria “Una voce poco fa” and the duet they have together “Dunque io son.”

Plot Synopsis

Place: Seville, Spain
Time: the seventeenth century.

Act I: The square in front of Dr. Bartolo's house

In a public square outside Dr. Bartolo's house a band of musicians and a poor student named Lindoro are serenading the window of Rosina.  Lindoro, who is really Count Almaviva in disguise, hopes to make the beautiful Rosina love him for himself - not his money.  Almaviva pays off the musicians who then depart, leaving him to brood alone.  Figaro approaches, singing.  Since Figaro used to be a servant of the Count, the Count asks him for assistance in helping him meet Rosina, offering him money should he be successful in arranging this.  Figaro advises the Count to disguise himself as a soldier and to feign drunkenness in order to gain entrance to the house and, for this suggestion, he is richly rewarded.

Inside Dr. Bartolo's house Rosina enters, singing.  Knowing the Count only by the name of Lindoro, Rosina writes to him.  As she is leaving the room, Bartolo and Basilio enter.  Bartolo is suspicious of the Count, and Basilio advises that he be put out of the way by creating false rumors about him.  When the two have gone, Rosina and Figaro enter.  Figaro asks Rosina to write a few encouraging words to Lindoro, which she has actually already written.  As Berta, the maid, attempts to leave the house, she is met by the Count, now disguised as an intoxicated soldier.  In fear of the drunken man, she rushes to Bartolo for protection and he tries to remove the supposed soldier, but does not succeed.  The Count manages to have a quick word with Rosina, whispering that he is Lindoro and passing her a letter.  Bartolo is suspicious and demands to know what is in the piece of paper in Rosina's hands, but she fools him by handing over her laundry list.  Bartolo and the Count start arguing and the noise attracts the attention of some nearby soldiers.  Bartolo believes that the Count has been arrested, but Almaviva only has to mention his name to the officer to be released.

Act II: Dr. Bartolo's house

Almaviva again appears at the doctor's house, this time disguised as a singing tutor and pretending to act as substitute for the supposedly ailing Basilio, Rosina's regular singing teacher.  Initially, Bartolo is suspicious, but does allow Almaviva to enter when the Count gives him Rosina's letter.  He describes his plan to discredit Lindoro whom he believes to be one of the Count's servants, intent on pursuing women for his master.  In order not to leave Lindoro alone with Rosina, the doctor has Figaro shave him.  When Basilio suddenly appears, he is bribed to feign sickness by a full purse from Almaviva.  Finally Bartolo detects the trick, drives everybody out of the room, and rushes to a notary to draw up the marriage contract between him and Rosina.  He also shows Rosina the letter she wrote to "Lindoro," and convinces her that Lindoro is merely a flunky of Almaviva.

The stage remains empty while the music creates a thunder storm.  The Count and Figaro climb up a ladder to the balcony and enter the room through a window.  Rosina shows Almaviva the letter and expresses her feelings of betrayal and heartbreak.  Almaviva reveals his identity and the two reconcile. While Almaviva and Rosina are enraptured by one another, Figaro keeps urging them to leave.  Two people are heard approaching the front door, and attempting to leave by way of the ladder, they realize it has been removed.  The two are Basilio and the notary and Basilio is given the choice of accepting a bribe and being a witness or receiving two bullets in the head (an easy choice, he says).  He and Figaro witness the signatures to a marriage contract between the Count and Rosina.  Bartolo barges in, but is too late.  The befuddled Bartolo (who was the one who had removed the ladder) is pacified by being allowed to retain Rosina's dowry.