"The Barber of Seville" at the 100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2023 -July 13

Surrender to the charms of an evening in a Spanish garden, as the Arena di Verona is transformed by Hugo de Ana's staging of Rossini's sparkling comic opera.

Join Rosina and Almaviva, Doctor Bartolo and the city's omnipresent general factotum — the irrepressible Figaro — amidst the oversize roses for tricks and disguises, plots and plans, and Rossini's scintillating score!

'The Barber of Seville is an opera buffa in two acts composed by Rossini in 1813. The libretto, by Cesare Sterbini, was based on the French comedy “Le Barbier de Seville” (1775) by Beaumarchais. Count Almaviva, a rich young Spanish nobleman, falls in love with Rosina, a young, but not entirely‐defenseless orphan. Rosina's elderly guardian is determined to marry her, but with the help of the cunning barber. Figaro, young love prevails!

Act 1

Count Almaviva is in love with Rosina, the ward of Dr.Bartolo. He pretends to be the poor student ''Lindoro'' as he serenades his beloved.

Figaro, formerly the Count's servant and now a barber in Seville, arrives to tell the Count that Bartolo plans to marry Rosina for her inheritance. Rosina appears on the balcony with a note for the handsome young man who has been serenading her.

Bartolo is suspicious of his ward’s furtive behavior, and determined to expedite his marriage plans. Leaving instructions that no one may enter the house, Bartolo hurries off to organise the wedding. Figaro promises that he can get Almaviva into the house, disguised as a soldier seeking lodging, for a certain sum, of course.

Rosina is determined to marry Lindoro. Figaro tells Rosina that Lindoro is his cousin and is deeply in love with her. Rosina is delighted, and gives him her note to deliver to the supposed Lindoro. The Count arrives in military dress, only to discover that Dr. Bartolo is exempt from housing soldiers. Almaviva slips Rosina a note, which Bartolo spots, but Rosina quickly substitutes the laundry list. The noise from the ensuing uproar attracts the police, and the Count is forced to discreetly reveal his identity to an officer to avoid arrest.

Act 2

Count Almaviva enters Bartolo’s house again, this time in the guise of Don Alonso, a music teacher. Bartolo falls asleep during the lesson and the Count and Rosina are able to confess their mutual love. Rosina and the Count arrange to elope, but Bartolo catches the lovers out, and the Count and Figaro must flee.

Bartolo convinces Rosina that the Count intended to seduce and then betray her. Furious, Rosina reveals the plan, and agrees to marry Bartolo, who rushes off to fetch the police.

Figaro and Almaviva appear and Rosina confronts her lover. Almaviva reveals his true identity, but the couple’s reconciliation is cut short when the notary that Bartolo requested appears. Figaro persuades the notary to marry Almaviva and Rosina instead. Bartolo returns too late and, left with no choice, blesses the marriage.