Opera Theater of Lakeland: Il Barbiere di Siviglia Synopsis

Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Gioacchino Rossini
November 8, 2008

performed in Italian with English supertitles

ACT I: Count Almaviva comes in disguise to the house of Dr. Bartolo to
serenade Rosina. Dr. Bartolo keeps Rosina confined to the house.
Almaviva pays the musicians and decides to wait until daylight in the hope
of seeing her. Figaro the barber, who has access to the houses in Seville
and knows the town’s secrets and scandals, arrives and describes his
busy life. The Count sings another serenade to Rosina, calling himself
Lindoro, a poor student. Figaro devises a plan: the Count will disguise
himself as a drunken soldier quartered at Dr. Bartolo’s house to gain
access to Rosina, whom Dr. Bartolo intends to marry. The Count is excited
about this plan while Figaro looks forward to a nice cash pay-off from the
grateful Count. Rosina reflects on the voice that has enchanted her heart
and resolves to use her considerable wiles to meet Lindoro (“Una voce
poco fa”). Dr. Bartolo appears with Rosina’s music master, Don Basilio,
who warns him that Count Almaviva, Rosina’s admirer, has been seen in
Seville. Dr. Bartolo decides to marry Rosina immediately. Basilio praises
slander as the most effective means of getting rid of Almaviva (“La
calunnia”). Figaro overhears the plot, warns Rosina, and promises to
deliver a letter from her to Lindoro (Duet: “Dunque io son”). Suspicious of
Rosina, Dr. Bartolo tries to prove that she has written a letter, but she
outwits him at every turn. Dr. Bartolo is angry at her defiance and warns
her not to trifle with him (“A un dottor della mia sorte”). Disguised as a
drunken soldier, Almaviva arrives and passes Rosina a note, which she
manages to hide from Dr. Bartolo. The old man argues that he has
exemption from billeting soldiers. Figaro announces that a crowd has
gathered in the street, curious about all the noise coming from inside the
house. The civil guard burst in to arrest the drunken soldier. The Count
reveals his true identity to the captain and is instantly released. Everyone
except Figaro is amazed by this turn of events, and all comment on the
crazy events of the morning.

ACT II: Dr. Bartolo suspects that the “drunken soldier” was a spy planted
by Almaviva. The Count returns, this time disguised as Don Alonso, a
music teacher and student of Don Basilio (Duet: “Pace e gioia sia con
voi”). He has come to give Rosina her music lesson in place of Basilio,
who, he says, is ill at home. “Don Alonso” also tells Dr. Bartolo that he is
staying at the same inn as Almaviva and has found the letter from Rosina.
He offers to tell Rosina that it was given to him by another woman, proving
that Lindoro is toying with her on Almaviva’s behalf. This convinces Dr.
Bartolo that “Don Alonso” is a true student of Don Basilio, and he allows
him to give Rosina her music lesson (“Contro un cor”). Figaro arrives to
give Dr. Bartolo his shave and manages to snatch the key that opens the
balcony shutters. The shaving is about to begin when Basilio shows up
looking perfectly healthy. Everyone convinces Basilio, with repeated
assurances and a quick bribe, that he is sick with scarlet fever (Quintet:
“Buona sera, mio signore”). Basilio leaves for home, confused but richer.
The shaving begins, sufficiently distracting Dr. Bartolo from hearing
Almaviva plotting with Rosina to elope that night. But Dr. Bartolo hears the
phrase “my disguise” and furiously realizes he has been tricked again.
Everyone leaves.The maid Berta comments on the crazy household (“Il
vecchiotto cerca moglie”). Basilio is summoned and told to bring a notary
so Dr. Bartolo can marry Rosina that very evening. Dr. Bartolo then shows
Rosina her letter to Lindoro. Heartbroken and convinced that she has
been deceived, she agrees to marry Dr. Bartolo and tells him of the plan
to elope with Lindoro. A storm passes. Figaro and the Count climb over
the wall. Rosina is furious until Almaviva reveals his true identity. Basilio
arrives with the notary. Bribed with a valuable ring and threatened with a
couple of bullets in the head, Basilio agrees to be a witness to the
marriage of Rosina and Almaviva. Dr. Bartolo arrives with soldiers, but it is
too late. Figaro, Rosina, and the Count celebrate their good fortune.