Rossini
Barber of
Seville
(from wikipedia)
synopsis
2 Acts or 3 ??
Synopsis 
Act One:
Against the backdrop of Seville in
Southern Spain, Count Almaviva, disguised
as a poor student named Lindoro, stands below the balcony of the beautiful
Rosina, serenading her with the hopes of winning her hand in marriage. The
count does not know Rosina, but has fallen in love with her from a distance
when she was visiting Madrid. He disguised himself and followed Rosina to
Seville. She is not impressed with his serenade and fails to appear on her
balcony. Discouraged, the count dismisses the musicians. Hearing someone
coming, he moves out of view. When he sees that it's his former servant,
Figaro, the count emerges to greet him and offer him cash if he'll help him
meet Rosina. Figaro happily accepts the cash, and, as he is the town barber
and Rosina's guardian is a client, assures the count that he has free access
to the house. Figaro begins to hatch a plan as the count begins another serenade.
This time, Rosina is charmed into appearing on her balcony. She drops a note
to her unknown admirer only to then be dragged back inside by her guardian,
Dr. Bartolo, who announces his plans to marry her the next day! Figaro tells
the count that, to get inside the house, he must disguise himself as a drunken
soldier with an order to be quartered in the doctor's home.
Act Two:
Rosina is alone in the doctor's study finishing a love letter to the
unknown serenader when Figaro walks in. Hearing Dr. Bartolo and his friend,
Don Basilio, arrive, Figaro hides. Basilio tells the doctor that Count Almaviva
is in town and interested in Rosina. Basilio tells Dr. Bartolo to ruin the
count's reputation by spreading gossip. But, the doctor wants to work faster
than that and plans to draw up a marriage contract for him to wed Rosina
instead. When the men leave, Figaro comes out of hiding. Rosina asks him about
the serenading stranger. Figaro reveals it's a poor young man who is head
over heels in love with her. Thrilled with the news, Rosina gives him the
letter to deliver. Dr. Bartolo returns to the study and is suspicious immediately
upon seeing that Rosina has just completed a letter. Rosina tries to cover
her tracks but Dr. Bartolo is outraged! He's a man of dignity and professional
standing and not to be lied to! He orders Rosina locked in her room. Count
Almaviva arrives at the house acting like a drunken soldier. As the doctor
protests the drunkard's presence, the count and Rosina exchange glances.
Figaro is trying to calm the doctor when the police arrive. The officer in
charge is prepared to arrest the drunken soldier until the soldier pulls
the officer aside and discretely reveals his true identity. The police back
off and leave, much to the amazement of everyone in the house.
Act Three:
Count Almaviva returns to the house dressed in yet another disguise:
as a music teacher. He insists that he give Rosina a music lesson on behalf
of Don Bassilio, who is sick. The count even produces the note that Rosina
wrote to Lindoro as proof that he's on the doctor's side. To provide a distraction
during the lesson, Figaro insists on shaving the doctor's face. This gives
the count and Rosina time to make arrangements to elope that night. The count
manages to steal the key to her room. Just then, Don Basilio enters the house.
To prevent him from foiling the charade, the count bribes him to play along
and he agrees. But, the doctor is paying attention to everything going on
and figures out what's happening. He chases out the count and Figaro and
sends Basilio to get the notary so he can marry Rosina immediately. He then
shows Rosina the note that she wrote to Lindoro and tells her that Lindoro
and Figaro plan to abduct her for the count. Feeling betrayed, Rosina agrees
to marry the doctor. He goes to get the police so they'll be on hand to arrest
the men when they come for Rosina. The count and Figaro climb a ladder onto
Rosina's balcony, ready for the elopement. She confronts them about their
so-called plans to give her to the count. The Count reveals his true identity
and explains he masqueraded as Lindoro to find out if she loved him for himself
or for his rank. Rosina expresses her great love and accepts the count's
proposal. Don Basilio then arrives with a notary, prompting the count to
bribe the man to officiate at his wedding. He agrees and
the couple is married by the time Dr. Bartolo arrives with police. The count
explains everything and offers to let Dr. Bartolo keep Rosina's dowry.
http://www.operalyra.ca/en//barber_of_seville
Comic Opera at its best! Rossini's The Barber
of Seville is one of the world's most popular operas, full of wit, trickery
and some of opera's most memorable music.
The dashing young Count Almaviva wants to marry the charming and beautiful
Rosina, but must outwit her guardian Dr. Bartolo, who has similar plans for
his ward. The Count turns to the mischievous Figaro - town barber and jack-of-all-trades
- to help mastermind a plan to win Rosina's hand. With irrepressible charm
and an endless supply of tricks, Figaro sets in motion a complicated series
of deceptions creating mayhem and confusion at every turn.
ACT I.
Seville, 1800s. At night, Count Almaviva brings a band of musicians
to serenade Rosina, ward of Dr. Bartolo, who keeps the girl confined in his
house. When Rosina fails to answer his song, the count pays the players,
and they leave. At the sound of Figaro's voice, Almaviva steps away as the
barber bounds in, boasting of his busy life as the neighborhood factotum.
Figaro, though currently in Bartolo's employ, encounters Almaviva and promises
to help him win Rosina - for a suitable reward. No sooner has Bartolo left
the house to arrange his own marriage with Rosina than Almaviva launches
into a second serenade, calling himself "Lindoro," a poor creature who can
offer only love. Figaro suggests Almaviva disguise himself as a drunken soldier
billeted to Bartolo's house.
Alone in the house, Rosina muses on the voice that has touched her
heart and resolves to outwit Bartolo. Figaro joins her, but they leave on
hearing footsteps. Bartolo enters with the music master, Don Basilio, who
tells him Almaviva is a rival for Rosina's hand and advises slandering the
nobleman's reputation. Bartolo agrees, but Figaro overhears them. Warning
Rosina that Bartolo plans to marry her himself the very next day, the barber
promises to deliver a note she has written to "Lindoro." Rosina, alone with
Bartolo, undergoes an interrogation, then listens to his boast that he is
far too clever to be tricked. Berta, the housekeeper, answers violent knocking
at the door, returning with Almaviva disguised as a drunken soldier in search
of lodging. While arguing with Bartolo, Almaviva manages to slip a love letter
to Rosina. But when Bartolo demands to see the letter, the girl substitutes
a laundry list. Figaro dashes in to warn that their hubbub has attracted
a crowd. Police arrive to silence the disturbance. As an officer is about
to arrest him, Almaviva whispers his identity and is released. Rosina, Berta,
Bartolo and Basilio are stupefied by everything that is happening.
ACT II.
Bartolo receives a young music teacher, "Don Alonso" (again Almaviva
in disguise), who claims to be a substitute for the ailing Basilio. Rosina
enters, recognizes her suitor and begins her singing lesson as Bartolo dozes
in his chair. Figaro arrives to shave the doctor and manages to steal the
key to the balcony window. Basilio now comes in, looking the picture of health;
bribed by Almaviva, he feigns illness and departs. Figaro shaves Bartolo
while Almaviva and Rosina plan their elopement that night. They are overheard
by the doctor, who drives Figaro and Almaviva from the house and Rosina to
her room, then sends again for Basilio. Berta, unnerved by all the confusion,
complains she is going mad. Bartolo dispatches Basilio for a notary, then
tricks Rosina into believing "Lindoro" is really a flunky of Almaviva. After
a thunderstorm, Almaviva arrives with Figaro and climbs through a balcony
window to abduct Rosina. At first the girl rebuffs "Lindoro," but when he
explains that he and Almaviva are one and the same, she falls into his arms.
Figaro urges haste, but before they can leave, their ladder is taken away.
Basilio enters with the notary. Though summoned to wed Rosina and Bartolo,
the official marries her instead to Almaviva, who bribes Basilio. Rushing
in too late, Bartolo finds the lovers already wed. When Almaviva allows him
to keep Rosina's dowry, the old man accepts the situation.
-- courtesy of Opera News
http://www.recmusic.org/midi/LarFact.mid
http://www.allbuilders.com/designers/midi/Lar_Fact.mid
http://rosemck1.tripod.com/rossini-largo-al-factotum-barber-seville.mid
Where have I heard That Before?
Everywhere! You heard Figaro's signature aria, "Largo al factotum" in
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and The Godfather (1972), and the famous Rossini
overture in the closing credits of Help! (1965), as well as in film fare
ranging from A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and Bad Santa (2003) to Space Jam
(1996) and Robots (2005).
Recommended Listening:
Rossini: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE — Hermann Prey, Teresa Berganza,
Luigi Alva; Claudio Abbado on DG #457733 (Recorded in 1972).
Recommended Viewing:
The Warner Brothers cartoon classic, "The Rabbit
of Seville."
http://www.wbopera.org/0304/Barber/story/index.html
http://www.fjtu.com.cn/fjnu/courseware/0618/course/_source/web/lesson/char12/j1.htm
