The Barber of Seville, by Rossini

The Barber of Seville, Gioachino Rossini's brilliant comic opera, remains one of the most famous operas in the world , even two centuries after its premiere.

Gioachino Rossini, composer of The Barber of Seville

This Italian masterpiece, initially known as "Almaviva or The Caution of the Useless," was first presented at the Teatro Argentina in Rome in 1816. At its debut, it faced a rocky start with boos, objects thrown onto the stage, and the untimely appearance of a cat in the middle of the performance.

This initial setback was partly due to competition from an opera of the same name by Giovanni Paisiello, a rival of Rossini who, unlike the composer, was enjoying significant success at the time. However, over time, Rossini's The Barber of Seville won the affection and admiration of the public, becoming one of the most important comic operas in the history of opera. Despite competing with other works of similar themes in its time, The Barber of Seville is the only one that has endured through the ages, standing as a lasting testament to Rossini's musical genius and his ability to entertain.

Plot of The Barber of Seville

The plot of The Barber of Seville tells the story of a passionate romance between Count Almaviva and the orphan Rosina. Despite the age difference and the fact that Dr. Bartolo is her protector, the Count longs to marry Rosina. The young lovers finally manage to unite in marriage thanks to the machinations of the cunning barber Figaro.

Acts from the opera The Barber of Seville

Act I

In the first act, outside Dr. Bartolo's house in Seville, the young Lindoro (actually Count Almaviva in disguise) attempts to serenade Rosina, without success. Rosina, Bartolo's ward, shows no interest in him. Lindoro intends to win Rosina's heart with his personality rather than his social standing. Therefore, Almaviva leverages his previous relationship with Figaro, the city's most famous barber, to ask for advice on how to approach Rosina. Figaro suggests he approach her disguised as a drunken soldier.

At Bartolo's house, Rosina writes a letter to Lindoro, but her attempt is interrupted by Bartolo and Basilio, who warn her about the arrival of Count Almaviva and that Lindoro must be sent by the Count to persuade the young woman. But Bartolo plans to secretly marry Rosina that very day, and Basilio suggests defaming Almaviva to discredit him.

Figaro arrives at the house and, after the other two leave the room, asks Rosina to write a letter to Lindoro, assuring him that he will deliver it. However, Bartolo catches her, suspecting a plot. The maid Berta finds Almaviva disguised as a drunken soldier and, despite her fear, cannot turn him away because of Bartolo's obligation to house troops in his home. Almaviva reveals his true identity to Rosina and gives her the letter. Bartolo tries to decipher its contents, but Rosina cleverly shows him a laundry list. The argument between Bartolo and Almaviva attracts the attention of the guards, who arrest the count, but release him upon mentioning his name, and Rosina mocks Bartolo and Basilio.

Act II

Bartolo is determined to marry Rosina as soon as possible and has devised a plan to prevent Count Almaviva, disguised as Lindoro, from taking her away. To this end, he has hired a notary to perform the marriage that very night. Figaro, the barber, arrives at Bartolo's mansion and realizes that Count Almaviva is disguised as an officer and intends to marry Rosina. Bartolo senses something is amiss and becomes nervous. Through a series of entanglements and misunderstandings, the characters try to uncover each other's true identities.

Finally, Don Basilio, Rosina's music teacher, arrives and tries to expose Lindoro (the Count) as an imposter. However, Count Almaviva manages to bribe Basilio to stay out of the scheme. When all seems lost and the notary is about to seal the marriage between Bartolo and Rosina, Figaro intervenes and, amidst the confusion, reveals Count Almaviva's true identity. The Count declares his love for Rosina and proposes marriage. Rosina, overjoyed, accepts Almaviva's proposal, and ultimately, the situation is resolved in the lovers' favor.

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