The opera begins in a public square outside the house of Bartolo. He is a doctor of medicine and Rosina's guardian. A group of musicians and a young student named Lindoro serenade Rosina, but it is to no avail. Lindoro, who is actually the young Count Almaviva in disguise, wants Rosina to love him for who he is and not for his money. After Lindoro pays the musicians, they leave him to plan his next move.
Figaro, the barber, approaches Count Almaviva. Since Figaro used to be a servant of Count Almaviva, the Count asks him for assistance with Rosina. Figaro advises the Count to disguise himself as a drunk soldier and seek accommodation from Bartolo in order to enter the house. For his suggestion, Figaro is generously rewarded.
In a room of Bartolo's house, Rosalina writes to Lindoro because she wants to get to know him better. As she is leaving the room, Bartolo enters with the music teacher Basilio. Bartolo is suspicious of the Count, and Basilio suggests that they create false rumours about him to be rid of him.
When the two leave, Rosina and Figaro enter. Figaro asks Rosina to write a few nice words to Lindoro, but she has already done so. Bartolo remains suspicious of the Count, but Rosina does not reveal anything.
Count Almaviva disguises himself as a soldier and pretends to be drunk. He then enters the house and asks for accommodation. In fear of the drunk man, Berta the housekeeper rushes to Bartolo for protection. Bartolo tells the soldier, Count Almaviva in disguise, that he has an official exemption which excuses him from the requirement to accommodate soldiers. The Count pretends to be too drunk to understand and dares Bartolo to fight. While Bartolo searches his desk for the document to prove his exemption, the Count whispers to Rosina that he is Lindoro in disguise and gives her a love letter.
Bartolo suspiciously demands to know what is in Rosalina's hands, but she fools him by handing over her laundry list. Bartolo and the Count begin to argue loudly and then Basilio and Figaro enter. Figaro warns that the noise is disturbing the entire neighbourhood. Finally, the noise attracts the attention of the police officer and his troops who rush into the room. Bartolo demands that the police officer arrest the drunken soldier, but when the Count quietly reveals his true identity, the police officer refuses. Bartolo and Basilio are both astonished.
Count Almaviva again appears at Bartolo's house, but this time he is disguised as Don Alonso, a priest and music teacher who says he is substituting for the ill Basilio. To gain Bartolo's trust, Don Alonso tells him that he has intercepted a note from Lindoro to Rosina, and that Lindoro is a servant of Count Almaviva who has bad intentions towards Rosina. While the Count pretends to give Rosina her singing lesson, Figaro arrives to shave Bartolo. Unwilling to leave Rosina alone with Don Alonso, Bartolo insists that Figaro shave him there in the music room. Basilio suddenly appears for his scheduled lesson, but he is generously bribed by Almaviva and persuaded to leave. However, Bartolo overhears Don Alonso and Rosina speaking, and angrily tells Don Alonso to leave.
Later Bartolo orders Basilio to have the notary ready to marry him to Rosina that evening. Bartolo shows Rosina the letter she wrote to Lindoro and persuades her it is proof that Lindoro is only a companion of Count Almaviva and is playing with her at the Count's request. Rosina believes the story and agrees to marry Bartolo.
Count Almaviva and Figaro climb up a ladder to the balcony and enter Rosina's room through a window. Rosina accuses Count Almaviva, who she believes is Lindoro, of betraying her. At that moment, Count Almaviva reveals his identity and the two reconcile. While Count Almaviva and Rosina speak, Figaro urges them to leave. Basilio and the notary approach the front door. The Count, Rosina and Figaro try to leave with the ladder, but discover it has been removed.
Using bribes and threats, Count Almaviva convinces the notary to marry him to Rosina with Basilio and Figaro as the witnesses. Bartolo enters with the police officer and his men, but it is too late. Though he is very upset, Bartolo is calmed by the news that he can keep Rosina's dowry.
The opera The Barber of Seville is a masterpiece of music and comedy. Though the barber is in the title of the opera, the main characters are Count Almaviva and Rosina. Gioachino Rossini composed more than 40 operas, but The Barber of Seville is undoubtedly his most popular.
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