The Barber of Seville

Act 1

Before dawn on a street in Seville, the young Count Almaviva serenades the window of a beautiful woman named Rosina — but he keeps his identity secret, calling himself “Lindoro,” a poor student. He wants to be loved for himself, not his title. When Rosina fails to appear, he dismisses his hired musicians and is left alone — just as Figaro, the town’s barber and self-proclaimed master of everything, bursts onto the scene. The two old friends recognize each other, and Figaro quickly sizes up the situation.

Rosina, it turns out, is the ward of Dr. Bartolo, a pompous old guardian who keeps her locked away and plans to marry her himself. Figaro has the run of the house as the household barber, and his scheming mind is already at work. He devises a plan: the Count will disguise himself as a drunken soldier, demand lodging at Bartolo’s house, and use the chaos to get close to Rosina.

Inside the house, Rosina is anything but the passive prisoner Bartolo imagines. She’s already written a note to “Lindoro” and is looking for a way to send it. Don Basilio, her scheming music teacher, arrives to warn Bartolo that Count Almaviva is sniffing around — he recommends launching a slander campaign to drive him off. Figaro intercepts the note, delivers it to the Count, and the plot is set in motion.

The disguised Count forces his way into Bartolo’s house, papers flying and voices rising. In the uproar, he manages to slip Rosina a note. When soldiers arrive to arrest the troublemaker, the Count quietly reveals his noble rank — and the officer backs down, baffled. Bartolo is furious. The act ends in glorious, bewildered confusion.

Act 2

The Count returns, this time dressed as a timid music teacher named “Don Alonso,” claiming to substitute for the supposedly ailing Basilio. He presents Bartolo with a letter Rosina wrote to “Lindoro” as proof of his trustworthiness — a bold and risky move. Bartolo, suspicious but flattered, lets him in.

The music lesson begins. Rosina recognizes her Lindoro beneath the disguise, and the two use the lesson to whisper their plans. Figaro arrives to shave Bartolo and, while the razor flies, steals the key to the balcony. The real Basilio shows up unexpectedly — one of the opera’s great comic moments — and is bribed and cajoled into pretending he’s sick and leaving. Bartolo, half-lathered, manages to overhear enough to grow suspicious. He chases everyone out in a fury.

Alone with Rosina, Bartolo plays his final card: he shows her the letter, tells her “Lindoro” gave it to him as proof of his indifference, and convinces her she has been betrayed. Heartbroken, Rosina agrees to marry Bartolo — and tells him about the midnight escape plan so he can stop it.

At midnight, Figaro and the Count climb through the balcony window. Rosina confronts her supposed betrayer — and the Count does the only thing left: he tells her who he really is. Count Almaviva, not Lindoro. She is overwhelmed. A notary arrives — hired by Bartolo to perform his own wedding — and is immediately put to better use. By the time Bartolo bursts in, the marriage is done — and there is nothing left to do but celebrate.