
The Barber of Seville
Figaro here, Figaro there, Figaro everywhere!
Figaro, Figaro, FI-GA-RO! The Count is in love with Rosina, but how will he win her love? How will she escape the clutches of her guardian, Doctor Bartolo? With the assistance of Figaro, the Barber of Seville, of course!
This classic comedy with a playful energy that springs from Rossini’s ebullient music returns in a whimsical new production by Stephen Barlow.
¡Figaro aquí, Figaro allá, Figaro en todas partes!
Figaro, Figaro, FI-GA-RO! El Conde está enamorado de Rosina, pero ¿Cómo se ganará su amor? ¿Cómo escapará ella de las garras de su tutor, el doctor Bartolo? ¡Con la ayuda de Figaro, el Barbero de Sevilla, por supuesto!
Esta comedia clásica con energía juguetona que surge de la exuberante música de Rossini regresa en una nueva y ingeniosa producción de Stephen Barlow.
Synopsis
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Act I
A piazza in Seville, in front of Bartolo’s house. Count Almaviva, grandee of Spain, has seen a beautiful girl on the Prado in Madrid and has followed her to Seville in the disguise of a student. After serenading the girl below her window, he meets by chance, his former valet Figaro in front of her house, and learns the girl is the ward of grumpy old Doctor Bartolo. Almaviva enlists Figaro’s help — for a handsome fee, of course — in freeing the lovely and spirited Rosina from her cage. He sings under her window, telling her he is the poor student Lindoro. The ever-inventive Figaro suggests sending the Count into the household disguised as a drunken soldier.
Rosina is determined to meet and conquer her suitor, despite Bartolo’s controlling ways and his equal determination to marry her expeditiously. When Figaro convinces her that she is indeed the beloved of his poor cousin “Lindoro,” she gives him a letter to take to the boy. Meanwhile, Don Basilio, the music teacher, gets wind of the arrival of Count Almaviva in Seville, and warns Bartolo that they must spread some evil rumor about the Count to drive him away lest he come courting their girl.
The Count comes courting indeed disguised as a soldier, demanding lodging and letting the astonished Rosina know with a wink that he’s beneath the military disguise.
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Act II
Inside Bartolo’s house. Bartolo is lost in thought. Might the soldier have been a spy? A visitor enters and introduces himself as “Don Alonso” (Almaviva), arriving to give the girl a music lesson in place of Don Basilio, who he says is ill. Alonso gains Bartolo’s confidence by showing him Rosina’s letter to the Count, and offering to tell her that a mistress of the Count’s gave it to him, as a way to dissuade Rosina from her crush. Rosina comes out reluctantly, but again recognizing “Lindoro” beneath the disguise, is suddenly delighted to sing for the visiting teacher.
Figaro enters, ready to shave and trim Bartolo, and contriving to get a key to Rosina’s balcony. But who should then appear but Don Basilio, in perfect health. Almaviva hastens the course of his illness with a quick bribe, and the others shoo him out. Almaviva whispers to Rosina that he and Figaro will come at midnight to whisk her away to wedded bliss. Bartolo overhears and, realizing he’s been tricked again, chases them all out in a fury.
Later Bartolo shows Rosina her own note to “Lindoro,” telling her the Count is merely toying with her. Rosina, thunderstruck, discloses the escape plan and agrees to marry Bartolo after all. At midnight, during a thunderstorm, Figaro and the Count arrive for the elopement, and a livid Rosina confronts them. It’s Lindoro she wanted, nothing to do with “your vile Count Almaviva.” The “vile” one reveals himself, and the three are overjoyed — but their joy turns to panic when Figaro realizes the ladder by which they entered has been moved. The doctor has foiled their escape.
A notary enters, followed by Basilio, who after another friendly financial inducement from the Count, agrees to serve as wedding witness. By the time Bartolo rushes back in, the deed is done, the girl has become a Countess and the dowry is the doctor’s to keep.
Love has triumphed and everyone’s good spirits are restored.
Artists
Emily Fons
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
This Season:
Rosina, The Barber of Seville
SFO Debut:
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 2013
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2008, 2009
Jack Swanson
Hometown: Stillwater, MN
This Season:
Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville
SFO Debut:
Lindoro, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2018
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2014, 2015
Joshua Hopkins
Hometown: Petawawa, Ontario, Canada
This Season:
Figaro, The Barber of Seville
SFO Debut:
Papageno, The Magic Flute, 2006
Past Seasons:
Dr. Falke, Die Fledermaus, 2017
Kevin Burdette
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
This Season:
Dr. Bartolo, The Barber of Seville
SFO Debut:
Mr. Scattergood, The Last Savage, 2011
Past Seasons:
Correspondence, Lord of Cries, 2021
Quince, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021
Voltaire/Pangloss/Cacambo/Martin, Candide, 2018
Major-domo, Ariadne auf Naxos, 2018
Frosch, Die Fledermaus, 2017
General Polkan, The Golden Cockerel, 2017
Ryan Speedo Green
Nicholas Newton
Hometown: San Diego, CA
This Season:
Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (July 2-13 & August 26)
Carmen
Tristan und Isolde
M. Butterfly
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2022
Murrella Parton
Hometown: Seymour, TN
This Season:
Berta, The Barber of Seville
Carmen
M. Butterfly
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2022
Kyle Miller
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
This Season:
Fiorello, The Barber of Seville
Carmen
Falstaff
Tristan und Isolde
M. Butterfly
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2022
Allen Michael Jones
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
This Season:
Officer, The Barber of Seville
Carmen
Falstaff
Tristan und Isolde
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2021 and 2022
Past Seasons:
Zaretsky, Eugene Onegin, 2021
The Lord of Cries, 2021
Iván López-Reynoso
Stephen Barlow
Andrew D. Edwards
Christopher Akerlind
Hometown: Hartford, CT
This Season:
The Barber of Seville,
M. Butterfly
SFO Debut:
The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Past Seasons:
Lucia di Lammermoor, 2017
Mitchell Harper
Rick Sordelet
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
This Season:
Carmen
The Barber of Seville
Falstaff
Tristan und Isolde
M. Butterfly
SFO Debut:
Salome, 2015
Christian Kelly-Sordelet
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
This Season:
Carmen
The Barber of Seville
Falstaff
Tristan und Isolde
M. Butterfly
SFO Debut:
Cold Mountain, 2015
Susanne Sheston
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
This Season:
Chorus Master, all productions
SFO Debut:
2008 Season
Past Seasons:
2021 Season
2019 Season
2018 Season
2017 Season