Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Theater an der Wien

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799), court clockmaker, inventor, writer, diplomat and adventurer, offered 1772 Le Barber of Seville the Comédiens Italy as an opera libretto on. When they refused, he wrote it into a spectacle, at the Comédie-Française in 1775 celebrated a triumphant success. Beaumarchais was so full of ideas for the fate of the characters around his trades Figaro that a whole trilogy was created, reflecting the rapid development of the social relations of the last third of the 18th century reflects exactly. Giovanni Paisiello's setting of the first piece was created in 1782 by order of Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg and was quickly enormously successful throughout Europe.

In Seville, Rosina will be treasured by her guardian Bartolo in his house, for, as the young woman is beautiful and rich, Bartolo wants to marry her. But Rosina has another admirer: A student, Lindoro, are you doing for some time secretly the yard. The young man likes it much better than her guardian. Lindoro is disguised, known as a seducer Count Almaviva. This time, however, he is seriously in love, he wants Rosina, although it is cooking, make her his wife. He assures the help of Figaro, as the physician, pharmacist and barber has free access to the house of Bartolo. Bartolo, however, has heard that the infamous Almaviva is in town and rightly suspected that this might have it in for his ward. He is trying to speed up the marriage, but Figaro and Almaviva devise counter-intrigues. Finally Bartolo has a disadvantage: Count Almaviva reveals his Incognito and Rosina makes his Countess.