Synopsis - The Barber of seville

Act I
Count Almaviva, a Grandee of Spain is desperately in love with the beautiful Rosina, the ward of Doctor Bartolo. Almaviva’s friend, the barber Figaro, learns of Almaviva’s affection for Rosina and decides to help him meet Rosina. But Dr. Bartolo who himself plans to marry Rosina (for she is not only beautiful, but also rich), watches over her very closely. He is assisted by the music-master, Basilio. Dr. Bartolo lets Basilio know of his suspicions about Almaviva’s love for Rosina, and Basilio suggests starting a scandal about Almaviva as a rebuttal.

Figaro attempts to bring Rosina and Almaviva together by telling her that he has a cousin by the name of Lindor who is in love with her. She is pleased, and gives him a note to covey to the supposed Signor Lindor, who is in fact Almaviva.

Bartolo grows more suspicious of Rosina, and although she is able to find excuses for all his questions, he is unsatisfied. He believes she is trying to deceive him.

To get closer to Rosina, Almaviva decides to disguise himself as a drunken soldier and sneak into Dr. Bartolo’s house. He is stopped by a guard, and Dr. Bartolo and Basilio call for the police, but by revealing his ranking to the guard, he is released.  Amidst all the chaos of the scene, he is still able to pass a note to Rosina.

Act II
The Count enters Dr. Bartolo’s house again, this time disguised as a music teacher. He is claiming to be a substitute for the ailing teacher, Basilio. While he pretends to provide singing lessons to the Rosina, he shares whispered words with her. Figaro in the meantime is shaving Dr. Bartolo’s beard, escaping from time to time to seek a key to the balcony – which he eventually obtains. The plan is for Rosina to escape from the balcony in the middle of the night so Almaviva and Rosina can wed.

Basilio, the real music teacher, suddenly enters. He is bribed by Almaviva with a bag of money to fain illness, which he does. At last Dr.Bartolo grows suspicious and overhears the lovers’ plan to elope.  The furious Bartolo drives everyone from the house, and calls for a notary to wed him and Rosina. When Figaro and Almaviva have left, Dr. Bartolo reveal a letter she had written to Lindoro and explains that he found it in the possession of another woman. Rosina is hurt by the supposed deception, and agrees to marry Dr. Bartolo.

But when Figaro and Almaviva arrive, the lovers reconcile, and get married using the notary Dr. Bartolo had called for. By the time Dr. Bartolo arrives, he is too late. To console him, he is given the equivalent of Rosina’s dowry.