Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

his new-born pride of wealth; and as the fairy consents the scene suddenly changes, and the
cobbler awakens in his old hut once more to find that all the recent events have been but a dream.
He is only a poor cobbler, after all, but he still has his loving wife, Annetta, and his merry little
children, and so is perfectly happy, thus proving that love is best of all.
134. BARBER OF SEVILLE
Opera Comique in Two Acts By Gioacchini Antonio Rossini
Libretto By Sterhini (Adapted from Beaumarchais Comedy)
First Produced Rome, February, 1816
Chief Characters Rosina, Berta, Count Almaviva, Figaro, Dr Bartolo, Basilia
THE characters in this opera are the same as in Mozarts " Marriage of Figaro," and it forms, in
fact, an introduction to that opera. The scene is laid in Seville, where Count Almaviva, having
fallen in love with Rosina, the charming ward of old Dr Bartolo, is found serenading his lady-love,
and seeking an opportunity of getting into her presence. This is no easy matter since Bartolo,
desiring to marry his fair ward himself and thus secure her somewhat considerable dowry, guards
her jealously, being assisted in his schemes by his friend Basilio, a music-master. Finally
Almaviva enlists the sympathy and clever wits of Figaro, the lively and gossiping barber and
general factotum of the town, who is not long in devising various wild schemes for bringing the
lovers together. For Rosina has also fallen in love with the handsome cavalier who so often
serenades her, and whom she only knows as plain Lindoro the Student, by which name Almaviva
signs the love-letters he sends her, not wishing to dazzle her by his rank. Acting on the suggestion
of the cunning Figaro he first gains entrance into Bartolos house by pretending to be a drunken
soldier, who presents an order for quartering upon the old Doctor, who indignantly resists the
order and goes off to seek for a licence he has for immunity from such undesired visitors. During
his absence Almaviva reveals himself as her lover to Rosina, who joyfully responds to his eager
love-making. On the return of Bartolo, however, he is forced to retire, being in fact arrested by the
guards, for whom the sly Doctor has sent.
In Act 2 the Count, again acting on the suggestion of the resourceful Figaro, gains entrance a
second time into Bartolos house by representing himself as a music-master and declaring he has
been sent as a substitute by old Basilio, whom he announces to be stricken with a sudden fever,
and he thus obtains a delightful interview with Rosina, making love to her whilst pretending to
give her a music lesson in the presence of her duenna, Berta. This ruse, however, comes to a
sudden end by the inopportune entrance of the real music-master, Basilio, who, by declaring that
he is in the best of health, reveals to the furious Bartolo that he has again been imposed upon by
the supposed student, who is obliged to beat a hasty retreat, but not before he has managed to
whisper to Rosina a plan for their elopement the next evening. After this Bartolo manages to rouse
Rosinas jealousy and suspicions of the supposed Lindoro by showing her a letter which he
declares the latter has written to another lady, and by stating that the student is also endeavouring,
with the aid of Figaro, to betray her into the hands of Count Almaviva, who is, as she thinks, a
stranger to her; and finally she is so upset that she says she will see Lindoro no more but will wed
her guardian next night instead. Bartolo, delighted with his clever manoeuv-ring, hurries away to
arrange for a notary to come at the appointed time; but Rosinas love for Lindoro soon overcomes