Repertoire
Il barbiere di Siviglia
opera in two acts
music by Gioachino Rossini
Act I
Scene 1.
Seville. In front of Dr. Bartolo’s house a poor student Lindoro (Count Almaviva in disguise) is serenading the window of Rosina. The girl is pleased to hear the song; however, she can’t come to the balcony: Bartolo is watching every step of hers.
Figaro, who is a barber and a musician, a cheat and a joker, appears. He offers his assistance in helping Almaviva meet Rosina. Figaro tells the Count that Rosina is Bartolo’s foster-daughter and Doctor wants to marry her.
Almaviva sings a canzonet of love to Rosina. Figaro advises the Count to disguise himself as a soldier and to ask for quarterage in order to gain entrance to the house of Bartolo.
Scene 2.
Dr. Bartolo’s sitting-room. Rosina writes to Lindoro about her love to him. Basilio, Rosina’s teacher of music and singing, arrives. Basilio reports that the suspicious Rosina’s admirer is Count Almaviva and advises that he be put out of the way by creating false rumours about him.
Figaro, who has heard the conversation, tells Rosina about her marriage contract. Rosina asks Figaro to pass a letter to Lindoro.
The Count disguised as an intoxicated soldier breaks into Bartolo’s house. He tries to give Rosina a letter, but Bartolo notices it. Bartolo and the Count start arguing and the noise attracts the attention of the Officer of the Watch and his men. Bartolo believes that the soldier will be immediately arrested, but Almaviva only has to mention his name to the officer to be released. Everybody is astounded.
Act II
Scene 3.
Berta, a maid, is dreaming of love.
Count Almaviva appears at the doctor’s house again, this time disguised as a singing tutor and pretending to act as substitute for the supposedly ailing Basilio, Rosina’s regular singing teacher. Bartolo is suspicious, but does allow Almaviva to enter when the Count gives him Rosina’s letter allegedly found in Almaviva’s house.
During the music lesson Lindoro-Almaviva confesses his love to Rosina. Figaro is trying to draw Bartolo’s attention.
When Basilio suddenly appears, he is bribed to feign sickness by a full purse from Almaviva.
The lesson goes on. Bartolo, having heard the words of love from the «singing teacher», makes him leave the house. Bartolo also shows Rosina the letter she wrote to ‘Lindoro’ and convinces her that Lindoro is merely a flunky of Almaviva. Rosina sadly agrees to marry Bartolo. Bartolo rushes for a notary.
Scene 4.
A thunder storm breaks out. 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. She refuses to leave with him. Almaviva reveals his identity and the two reconcile.
On Bartolo’s request, Basilio has brought the notary in. Almaviva asks the notary to confirm his marriage to Rosina. Basilio, bribed by the Count, agrees to be a witness. Bartolo barges in, but is too late. He has nothing better to do than to acknowledge the marriage.
Scene 1.
Seville. In front of Dr. Bartolo’s house a poor student Lindoro (Count Almaviva in disguise) is serenading the window of Rosina. The girl is pleased to hear the song; however, she can’t come to the balcony: Bartolo is watching every step of hers.
Figaro, who is a barber and a musician, a cheat and a joker, appears. He offers his assistance in helping Almaviva meet Rosina. Figaro tells the Count that Rosina is Bartolo’s foster-daughter and Doctor wants to marry her.
Almaviva sings a canzonet of love to Rosina. Figaro advises the Count to disguise himself as a soldier and to ask for quarterage in order to gain entrance to the house of Bartolo.
Scene 2.
Dr. Bartolo’s sitting-room. Rosina writes to Lindoro about her love to him. Basilio, Rosina’s teacher of music and singing, arrives. Basilio reports that the suspicious Rosina’s admirer is Count Almaviva and advises that he be put out of the way by creating false rumours about him.
Figaro, who has heard the conversation, tells Rosina about her marriage contract. Rosina asks Figaro to pass a letter to Lindoro.
The Count disguised as an intoxicated soldier breaks into Bartolo’s house. He tries to give Rosina a letter, but Bartolo notices it. Bartolo and the Count start arguing and the noise attracts the attention of the Officer of the Watch and his men. Bartolo believes that the soldier will be immediately arrested, but Almaviva only has to mention his name to the officer to be released. Everybody is astounded.
Act II
Scene 3.
Berta, a maid, is dreaming of love.
Count Almaviva appears at the doctor’s house again, this time disguised as a singing tutor and pretending to act as substitute for the supposedly ailing Basilio, Rosina’s regular singing teacher. Bartolo is suspicious, but does allow Almaviva to enter when the Count gives him Rosina’s letter allegedly found in Almaviva’s house.
During the music lesson Lindoro-Almaviva confesses his love to Rosina. Figaro is trying to draw Bartolo’s attention.
When Basilio suddenly appears, he is bribed to feign sickness by a full purse from Almaviva.
The lesson goes on. Bartolo, having heard the words of love from the «singing teacher», makes him leave the house. Bartolo also shows Rosina the letter she wrote to ‘Lindoro’ and convinces her that Lindoro is merely a flunky of Almaviva. Rosina sadly agrees to marry Bartolo. Bartolo rushes for a notary.
Scene 4.
A thunder storm breaks out. 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. She refuses to leave with him. Almaviva reveals his identity and the two reconcile.
On Bartolo’s request, Basilio has brought the notary in. Almaviva asks the notary to confirm his marriage to Rosina. Basilio, bribed by the Count, agrees to be a witness. Bartolo barges in, but is too late. He has nothing better to do than to acknowledge the marriage.