Synopsis

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: "Ecco, ridente in cielo" Count Almaviva "Largo al factotum della citta" Figaro "Una voce poco fa" Rosina ACT I

By Andrew Stephens and Amrita Vijayaraghavan

IN FRONT OF BARTOLO’S HOME

In antebellum New Orleans (standing in for Seville, Spain, in today’s production) a band of musicians in the French Quarter— including the young Count Almaviva—attempts to serenade Rosina, a young woman in the care of an elderly man, Bartolo. The Count hopes to secure Rosina’s genuine affection for himself (and not for his money) and has disguised himself as a poor student, “Lindoro.” When this serenade attempt fails, the Count pays the musicians to leave and sulks by himself.

As the Count stews, his former servant Figaro approaches (now the titular town barber, and a popular man about town). The Count learns that Bartolo plans to marry Rosina himself, once she is of age. Assured that Rosina’s interest in “Lindoro” has been piqued, the Count offers Figaro a handsome sum to arrange a meeting with Rosina. Figaro directs the Count to gain entrance to Bartolo’s home by pretending to be a drunken soldier ordered to billet for the evening.

BARTOLO’S HOME

Rosina writes to the Count, whom she still knows as Lindoro. As she leaves the room, Bartolo and the music teacher Basilio enter to discuss the Count’s rumored designs on Rosina. The music teacher suggests that Bartolo cultivate rumors about the Count in order to get him out of the way.

After they exit, Rosina returns with Figaro. He entreats her to write a love note to Lindoro, and finds that she’s already one step ahead of him. Bartolo surprises the two, suspicious of their activities, but Rosina manages to deflect him.

The Count, taking up Figaro’s previous suggestion, enters the house pretending to be a drunk soldier in need of housing. Berta, the housekeeper, summons Bartolo for protection. Bartolo claims an official exemption from the requirement to billet soldiers, but the Count pretends to be too drunk to understand. As Bartolo rummages for proof of his exemption, The Count reveals to Rosina that he is Lindoro and passes a love letter to her.

The Count and Bartolo argue loudly as Basilio and Figaro both enter the room. The noise and commotion of this argument draws in the Officer of the Watch and his troops. As the troops move to arrest the Count, he quietly reveals his true noble identity, prompting the Officer of the Watch to back off. This, in turn, mystifies Bartolo and Basilio, to Figaro’s amusement. The commotion sends everyone into wild confusion.

ACT II

ROOM IN BARTOLO’S HOME WITH PIANO

The Count Almaviva tries his luck a second time by masquerading as “Don Alfonso,” a priest and singing instructor sent to relieve an ailing Basilio. To gain trust, he tells Bartolo that Lindoro is a servant of the Count and that he, Don Alfonso, has intercepted a letter meant for Rosina. As the Count pretends to give Rosina her singing lesson, Figaro arrives to give Bartolo a shave. Untrusting of this new instructor, Bartolo has Figaro shave him in the parlor so that he can watch the lesson.

As this is happening, Basilio arrives to give a lesson. Although surprised, Basilio is soon persuaded by the disguised Count (and a bribe from Figaro) to feign illness. With Basilio gone, Bartolo overhears the Count and Rosina discussing plans to elope, aided by Figaro. In anger, he drives the Count and Figaro from his home.

Basilio returns to admit that he has never heard of Don Alfonso, prompting Bartolo to request a notary so that he can marry Rosina right away. As Basilio leaves to fulfill this order, Bartolo uses the Count’s letter to convince Rosina of the Count’s ill intentions. Rosina, believing this tale, reveals the elopement details and in a fury agrees to marry Bartolo, who rushes off to find the Officer of the Watch.

ROOM IN BARTOLO’S HOME LOOKING OUT ONTO THE SQUARE

After a violent thunderstorm moves through, The Count and Figaro climb into Bartolo’s home with a ladder. There they meet an angry Rosina who soon changes her tune when the truth is exposed, and Lindoro is revealed to be Count Almaviva. As the two lovers embrace, Basilio, along with the notary, arrives to end the celebration. Figaro encourages them to flee Bartolo’s home, but they discover that the ladder has been removed, trapping them inside.

While they wait on Bartolo’s arrival, Figaro persuades the notary to marry Rosina and Count Almaviva. The Count bribes Basilio into acting as a witness. When, at last, Bartolo storms in with the troops, it is too late. He accepts the marriage and everyone blesses the couple with wishes of love and happiness. MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: "Contro un cor" Rosina "Don Basilio! – Cosa veggo!" Quintet "Amor e fede eterna, si vegga in noi regnar!" Full ensemble