The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro

Eighteenth century French author Pierre Beaumarchais is best known today for his Figaro plays. Beaumarchais had an action-filled career as a watchmaker, musician, secret agent, businessman, diplomat, and a financer of revolutions. His literary career was as turbulent as his personal life. After a series of lawsuits in Paris, the accounts of his trials made his reputation as a sarcastic, effective, and recognized writer. First performed in 1773, “The Barber of Seville” is the story of a Spanish count who has fallen for the beautiful Rosine. In order to determine whether or not she could love him for himself and not his wealth and status the count disguises himself as a poor student and attempts to woo her. “The Marriage of Figaro” picks up where “The Barber of Seville” leaves off, three years later as Figaro and Suzanne, two members of the count’s staff, plan to marry. The count now bored with his marriage to Rosine, plans a liaison with Figaro’s intended. Two masterpieces of commedia dell’arte, these works were provocative in their time for their criticism of the nobility and would go on to inspire some of the most famous operas of all time.