With The Barber of Seville, the truculent Rossini offers a festival of famous arias with infectious glee. Everything swirls in this music where entertainment is the only thing that counts. The voices of this brilliant composer of bel canto are always in the limelight.

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Il barbiere di Siviglia, composed in 1816 by Rossini, is considered to be the finest example of Italian opera buffa. The libretto is inspired by Beaumarchai's play of the same name, but its social implications are more diffuse than in the French playwright's work. Chronologically, the plot precedes that of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). To attend a performance of The Barber of Seville is to rediscover some of the best-known sung pieces in the classical repertoire, such as Basilio's aria, Figaro's cavatina and Rosina's aria.

THE STORY

In Seville, Count Almaviva is trying to seduce Rosina, the ward of Doctor Bartholo. Bartholo has designs on the young girl and keeps her locked up in his house. Figaro, nicknamed the Babier of Seville, has become the Count's valet and helps his master to win over the woman he loves.

THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

Figaro, barber, baritone
Rosina, doctor Bartolo's ward, contralto
Count Almaviva, Rosina's lover, tenor
Bartolo, doctor, bass
Basilio, music master, bass