The Barber of Seville (Paisiello)

• Il conte Almaviva / Count Almaviva, Lindoro in love with the name Rosina (Tenor)
• Rosina, Orphan, Almaviva in love with (Alt )
• Bartolo, doctor, Rosina's guardian ( bass)
• Figaro, the barber (baritone )
• Don Basilio, organist, Rosina's music teacher, confidant Bartolo (baritone )
• Svegliato, servants Bartolo (baritone )
• Giovinetto, servants Bartolo (Tenor)
• Notaro / Notary (baritone )
• Alcade / Richter (Tenor)

The Barber of Seville ( Original title: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La ovvero precauzione inutile ) is a comic opera by the Italian composer Giovanni Paisiello. The Paisiello as dramma giocoso in due atti ( dramma giocoso in two acts ) designated opera is about how the student dressed as Count Almaviva his beloved Rosina freed with the help of the witty barber Figaro from the clutches of her jealous guardian Bartolo. Paisiello's opera, first performed in 1782 was extremely successful, but was replaced in the 19th century by Rossini's score of the same material almost entirely from the repertoire of opera houses.

Action

Act I

The Count Almaviva, disguised as a student named Lindoro, going up and down the street, hoping to get to face Rosina ( Ecco l' ora Introduction s'avvicina ). Almaviva meets his former servant Figaro, who is now working as a barber (Scene and Duet Diamo alla noia il bando ). Figaro tells the Count that he, since he had left the service of the Count, was dogged by bad luck and the Count likes to services 'm (Aria Scorsi già molti paesi ). Since a window of the house goes on the road. Rosina sings a wistful song, but when Bartolo caught her, she claimed it had " The unnützte Caution" was only for an aria from the opera, and she can get sent to the Count a slip of paper with a message ( aria and duet Lode al ciel - Una carta Cos'è quella )? . The Count tells Figaro that he had fallen in love with Rosina. Figaro offers the Count help: As a barber he come daily into the house, the Count could, disguised as a soldier einquartierter, also enter the house. The Count sings a serenade Rosina ( with a distinctive guitar accompaniment) and tells her that he's a poor student named Lindoro is ( Cavatina Saper bramate ). Figaro asks the Count to come to his house so he can dress him up, but calls for a reward in the form of gold pieces (Duet Non dubitar, o Figaro ). Figaro tells Rosina with that " Lindoro " is in love with her. Rosina are Figaro a letter to " Lindoro " with. At the same time Figaro interspersed with sleeping pills and sneezing powder servants Bartolo out of action, so that they can not tell what has happened to her ( Trio Ah, Ah, Ah ). Don Basilio appears and warns Bartolo: He had heard that the Count Almaviva Rosina nachstelle. Since Bartolo wants to marry Rosina himself tomorrow, suggests Basilio before, Almaviva to slander ( aria La calunnia, mio ​​signore ). Figaro, the conversation between Basilio and Bartolo consulted with Rosina and sets thereof. The suspicious Bartolo gets that Rosina has written something and suspects a message to her lover (Aria Veramente ho torto, è vero ). The Count, disguised as a drunken soldier, appears and demands billeting, but Bartolo proves that he is exempt from billeting. " Linodoro " plugged Rosina secretly a message ( trio Ah! Rosina ). Rosina misunderstands the prompt " Lindoros ", for the time being to remain with her ​​guardian, and lamenting her sad fate ( Cavatina Giusto ciel, che conoscete ).

Second Act

Bartolo annoyed that Rosina wants to take any music lessons at Basilio more. Since the Count appears, disguised as a music teacher Don Alonzo to go back into the house (Duet Oh che umor ). " Alonzo " said to have been sent from the diseased Basilio as a representative, and forges to win the trust Bartolo, Bartolo seemingly with an intrigue so Bartolo can marry Rosina, and Bartolo are doing Rosina's letter. At the suggestion Bartolo granted " Alonzo " Rosina a music lesson. Rosina sings the aria Già riede primavera what Bartolo a song from his youth to the best available ( Seghidiglia Spagnuola Vuoi tu, Rosina ). Figaro appears and steals cunning Bartolo the key to the blind, to allow Rosina flight. As Basilio comes to give Rosina singing lessons, creates confusion, but Figaro saves the situation by Basilio herauskomplimentiert ( Quintet Don Basilio! Giusto cielo ). While a storm rages ( Temporal - Thunderstorm music), Bartolo plans in an interview with Basilio to marry Rosina immediately. As Rosina appears Bartolo shows her the letter " Lindoros ". He explains Lindoro is merely an agent of the Count Almaviva, but this now love another woman. Mad about " Lindoros " apparent betrayal, Rosina agrees to marry Bartolo. She reveals to him that Figaro and Almaviva have even stolen the key for the blind, to kidnap them. Bartolo goes to fetch the notary and the judge so that he not only married Rosina, but can also be " Lindoro " and Figaro arrest. As the Count and Figaro appear. Rosina makes " Lindoro " allegations ( accompagnato Io t'aspettava ). She reveals that she loved Lindoro. Since the count is to be recognized. As Rosina recognizes that not " Lindoro ," but Bartolo has cheated on her, she quickly close when the workers recruited from Bartolo notary marriage. Figaro and the bribed with gold Basilio act as witnesses. As Bartolo appears, it remains only in the cold ( final Cara, was tu il mio ben ).

Importance

Paisiello wrote the Barber of Seville as Kapellmeister of the Russian Empress Catherine II The premiere took place in St. Petersburg in the Hermitage Theater. The Barber of Seville was one of the most successful operas of its time and was played in a few years to nearly all European stages. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote for a performance in Vienna a deposit Aria ( Already laughs the lovely spring KV 580). Paisiello's opera was so popular that it was considered a risky venture and provocation, as Gioachino Rossini set to music the same substance in 1816. In order not to offend Paisiello and his followers, he chose for his opera originally the title Almaviva, ossia L' inutile precauzione. In contrast to Rossini's score Paisiello's music is less virtuosic and turbulent, but differentiated in the representation of persons. The comic trio Bartolo with the yawning and sneezing servants has no counterpart in Rossini. Rosina's singing number in the education scene in the third act represents a major aria in the style of opera seria with solo clarinet and soloistic bassoon dar. for a performance in Naples in 1787 Paisiello worked the opera into a three-act version and wrote this two new arias and a final for the second act

Discography

• Arte Nova 49702: Putbus Festival Orchestra, Wilhelm Keitel
• Bongiovanni AB20009: Chamber Orchestra of the Festival Giovanni Paisiello, Giovanni di Stefano
• Dynamic CDS417: Trieste Teatro Verdi Orchestra, Giuliano Carella
• Hungaroton HCD12525 -26: Hungarian State Orchestra, Adam Fischer
• Kicco 9020: Chamber Orchestra of the Greek National Opera, Chris Santos Alisafis
• Valhalla WLCD0282: I virtuosi di Roma, Renato Fasano