Gioacchino Rossini’s much beloved opera The Barber of Seville (Il barbiere di Siviglia) is considered the most popular opera buffa (comic opera) of all-time. It is an italian opera with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini that is based on the first of a trilogy of plays written by french author Beaumarchais, Le Barbier de Séville. Barber of Seville was written in only three weeks (and with an overture that Rossini borrowed from the less successful opera, Aureliano in Palmira, the premiere of the opera was a total fiasco. Accounts of the premiere speak of a loud and unrully audience and a series of accidents and mishaps onstage, including a problem with a trap-door and cat that wandered onto the set. The second performance, however was much better received, and the work has stood the test of time as one of the most performed operas in history. The opera, first performed in 1816 in Rome is set in Seville, Spain and in 2 acts.
Barber of Seville Characters:
- Count Almaviva, a nobleman uses the alias of Lindoro (tenor)
- Rosina, a ward of Doctor Bartolo (lyric-coloratura soprano or mezzo soprano)
- Dr. Bartolo, Rosina’s gaurdian (bass)
- Figaro, the barber of Seville (baritone)
- Fiorello, the servant of the count
- Don Basilio, Rosina’s music teacher and counsel to Dr. Bartolo (bass)
- Bertha, (Marcellina) Dr. Bartolo’s maid (soprano)
The Plot of Barber of Seville:
- Act I - Scene 1: Outside of Doctor Bartolo’s house, Lindoro, (Count Almaviva) a poor student, has assembled a group of musicians to serenade the beautiful (and rich) Rosina. His attempt to woo her fails. The Count’s former servant and local barber, Figaro, appears. Figaro agrees, for compensation, to help his old boss, the Count, get his girl. Figaro devises a plan to sneak the Count into the house as a drunken soldier who has been ordered to stay there for shelter.
- Act I - Scene 2: The much olderBartolo intends to marry Rosina for her money. Rosina, who only knows the Count by the name Lindoro, writes him a love letter. When Bartolo arrives with Basilio, Rosina leaves. Bartolo suspects that the Count is in town and after Rosina. Basilio gives Bartolo the advice that the Count needs to be removed. As they leave, Rosina and Figaro enter and Figaro asks her to write a letter to Lindoro. Rosina gives him the letter that she has already written.
- Act I - Finale: The drunken soldier (the Count) arrives and Bartolo tries to kick him out. The Count is able to pass a love letter that he has written to Rosina. Hearing all of the commotion, the Police burst in and Bartolo demands that they arrest the “drunk soldier.” The Count quietly reveals his identity to the officer of police who releases.
- Act II - Count Almaviva comes back to Bartolo’s house, this time disguised as Don Alonso, a music apprentice of Basilio’s who is there to substitute for Rosina’s music lesson. He explains to Bartolo that Basilio is very ill. The Count pretends to give Rosina a music lesson. Figaro is there to give Bartolo his daily shave. Figaro sneaks off to find the key to Bartolo’s balcony so that they can unlock it and sneak Rosina out in the middle of the night. Basilio unexpectedly shows up. Basilio is not really ill, but is convinced that he is, when the Count pays him off. As the Count (in disguise) and Rosina go over plans for her escape, Bartolo overhears them and drives everyone from the house. He vows to marry Rosina that evening and rushes to get a notary to do so. Bartolo also convinces Rosina that Lindoro is just a failed servant of the Count’s and that she should not be with him.
- Later that evening, there is a great storm. The Count and Figaro sneak a the ladder into Bartolo’s house. The Count shows Rosina his true identity and their love is reconciled. When Figaro sees people coming, the three try to escape back out the window, where they find that the ladder has been removed. Basilio arrives with a notary to marry Rosina and Bartolo. The Count convinces Basilio to wed he and Rosina or receive two bullets in the head. When Bartolo arrives with the police, Rosina and Count Almaviva have already been married.
Recommended Barber of Seville opera recordings:
- Decca, 2002; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner; Agnes Baltsa, Francisco Araiza, Thomas Allen
- Naxos, 1994; Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Will Humburg; Roberto Servile, Sonia Ganassi, Ramon Vargas, Angelo Romero
If you like Barber of Seville, here are some other operas written by Rossini:
- Tancredi
- L’italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers)
- Il turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy)
- Il barbiere di siviglia (The Barber of Seville)
- La Cenerentola (Cinderella)
- Le Comte Ory (Count Ory)
- Guillaume Tell (William Tell)
Please visit the article archives for more interesting articles about opera like this one about Rossini’s opera Barber of Seville. Feel free to contact the Opera feature writer, Bryce by email if you have questions about Barber or Seville or have any recommendations as to material you would like to see covered.
