Act One
Scene 1
Several musicians have gathered on a square at dawn. They have been ordered by Count Almaviva to serenade and win the heart of a young woman whom he saw in his native city of Madrid a while ago for the first time. When nobody appears on the balcony and day is about to break, the Count dismisses the musicians. He then encounters an old acquaintance – Figaro, the bustling barber, apothecary, vet and go-between for all types of business. When the Count tells Figaro about his intentions, the latter explains that the unknown beauty – Rosina – is the ward of the old Doctor Bartolo. The doctor jealously guards Rosina, as he is as much in love with her inheritance as with her, and intends to marry her.
Rosina has indeed heard the Count’s voice and suddenly appears on the balcony. Despite the presence of her guardian she drops a note in which she asks her unknown admirer to tell her his name and state his intentions. When Bartolo leaves the house, Almaviva seizes the opportunity to sing again, and introduces himself to Rosina as the penniless student Lindoro. However, before Rosina can answer him, she is dragged into the house. Almaviva, who is more than ever in love with Rosina, asks Figaro, who performs the widest variety of functions in Bartolo’s house, to gain access for him, promising him a generous reward. Figaro suggests that the Count pass himself off as a drunken soldier and demand accommodation in Bartolo’s house.
Scene 2
Rosina has written a love letter to the supposed Lindoro and is musing on how to find an opportunity to send it his way. Figaro arrives and turns out to be the ideal postillon d’amour for Rosina. Bartolo unexpectedly returns. He can smell intrigue and suspects Figaro of complicity. However, not even his servants Berta and Ambrogio can give him any information about what is going on in the house.
The music teacher Don Basilio comes onto the scene, and the tidings he brings are not good: Count Almaviva, whom Basilio and Bartolo believe to be an admirer of Rosina’s, is in town. Basilio suggests a proven remedy against unwelcome lovers: slander. However, Bartolo is impatient and would prefer to draw up the marriage contract immediately.
Figaro has been eavesdropping on their conversation and tells Rosina about Bartolo’s plan. He also announces to her that Lindoro will soon try to enter the house. In a great thrill of anticipation, Rosina hands him her letter. When Bartolo discovers ink stains on Rosina’s finger as well as other evidence of a letter having been written in secret, she comes up with a harm-less explanation.
Almaviva/Lindoro appears as a drunken soldier and demands vociferously to be billeted for a night in Bartolo’s house. Bartolo is vexed, but is able to produce a certificate exempting him from military billeting. Almaviva causes a commotion, in the course of which he succeeds in handing a letter over to Rosina. Bartolo, however, has noticed; just in time, Rosina manages to exchange the letter for a laundry list. Amid the general tumult, Figaro and Basilio appear, one after the other. In the end, soldiers also storm the house in order to arrest the alleged troublemaker Almaviva, but a document shown to the officer is enough to make the soldiers withdraw – to the amazement of all present.
Act Two
Bartolo is convinced that the soldier was an emissary of Count Almaviva. Another guest announces himself. It is Almaviva, disguised as a singing teacher. He poses as Don Alonso, pupil of Don Basilio, who has allegedly fallen ill. Of course, Bartolo again senses danger, but is reassured when the supposed Don Alonso presents himself as an ally in the struggle against Almaviva. He hands Bartolo a letter written by Rosina to Lindoro, which has happened to fall into his hands. He claims that he intends to convince Rosina of Almaviva’s perfidy. As a result, Basilio trusts the music teacher and fetches Rosina, but does not leave the room.
Bartolo dozes off during the singing lesson, and the two lovers can at last declare themselves. Figaro appears under the pretext of wanting to shave Bartolo. In the process, he succeeds in taking the key to Rosina’s balcony door off him. To the horror of all present, Don Basilio appears, who is allegedly terribly ill. Only thanks to a generous bribe from the Count can he be put to silence. While Figaro continues to shave Bartolo, Rosina and her «Lindoro» plan their elopement. It is planned that Rosina should be abducted at midnight, but Bartolo overhears them and discovers the trick. He chases Figaro and Almaviva off.
Now the greatest hast is required. Bartolo sends Basilio to the notary to have the marriage contract with Rosina drawn up as quickly as possible. In order to win Rosina over once and for all, Bartolo denigrates «Lindoro», claiming that he wants merely to play her into Count Almaviva’s hands. To prove it, he will show her the letter that «Lindoro» has given him. Rosina becomes doubtful, believes her guardian, agrees to the marriage and discloses the planned elopement.
As agreed, Almaviva and Figaro enter the house using a ladder at midnight. They come upon an angry Rosina. However, the misunderstanding is soon clarified when «Lindoro» reveals himself as Almaviva. Figaro urges them to flee, but discovers that someone has in the meantime removed the ladder. When Basilio and the notary appear in order to perform the marriage with Rosina and Bartolo, Basilio is once again bribed, and signs the marriage contract between Rosina and Almaviva as a witness. Bartolo comes too late and has to realise that he has been deceived.
