The BARBER OF SEVILLE

Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini after the play by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

Synopsis

Count Almaviva (disguised as Lindoro, a student) arrives to serenade a young girl with whom he has become smitten. He runs into his former servant Figaro, the town barber, who identifies the girl as Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo. Figaro offers to help him court Rosina. He suggests that Almaviva disguise himself as a drunken soldier and demand lodging with Bartolo.

At Bartolo’s house, Rosina resolves that Lindoro will be hers. Figaro comes to see her, but they are interrupted by Bartolo and Don Basilio, Rosina’s music teacher, who reports that Almaviva is in town. Feeling threatened, Bartolo decides to have a marriage contract quickly drawn up between himself and Rosina. Figaro, who has overheard their conversation, informs Rosina of the plot.

Rosina gives Figaro a note for Lindoro, but Bartolo catches sight of it, accusing her of writing to an admirer and threatening to lock her in. Almaviva, disguised as a drunken officer, arrives demanding lodging. While a frustrated Bartolo is distracted, Al-maviva slips Rosina a note. Then, Almaviva threatens to fight Bartolo, while Figaro tries to intervene. The militia arrives to restore order, and Bartolo is left confused.

Bartolo sits alone when Almaviva enters disguised as Don Alonso, a music teacher sent to replace Don Basilio. Bartolo is suspicious, but “Alonso” gives Bartolo the letter from Rosina to Lindoro. Assured, Bartolo fetches Rosina for her lesson and listens as she sings of love.

Figaro arrives to shave Bartolo. Meanwhile, Almaviva whispers the escape plan to Rosina, saying he and Figaro will come for her at midnight. Bartolo overhears them and accuses them all of scheming.

Don Basilio arrives and Bartolo soon discovers that Alonso was an imposter. He realizes the urgency of marrying Rosina, and Basilio hurries off in search of a notary. Meanwhile, Bartolo attempts to make Rosina doubt her lover by showing her the letter that she wrote to Lindoro, convincing her that Lindoro and Figaro are hirelings for Almaviva. Rosina agrees to give up Lindoro and marry Bartolo that night.

Figaro and Almaviva appear, ready to escape with Rosina. She is at first furious, but her anger turns to delight when she finds out that Almaviva and Lindoro are one and the same. Their escape is thwarted by Don Basilio, who enters with the notary. Threatened with a gun to his head, Don Basilio is persuaded to act as a witness as the notary marries Almaviva and Rosina. Bartolo arrives too late. Almaviva placates him by allowing him to keep Rosina’s dowry, and all express joy at the happy ending.