in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of York of Rossini's Opera "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" ("The Barber of Seville").

The libretto of Rossini's The Barber of Seville is based on Beaumarchais's play ; the earliest one of three in which so many famous characters appear, of whom the most important are Figaro, the Count, and Rosina, afterwards to become the Countess. In this opera, however, Rosina is still a young girl the ward of Dr. Bartolo, and is being wooed under difficulties by Count Almaviva. As the Count is anxious to see more of the charming girl he is in love with, and as she is clearly anxious to escape from her irksome guardianship, he plots to achieve his purpose.

In the first scene of Act 1 he is in the garden of Dr. Bartolo's house serenading Rosina beneath her balcony.
Figaro, the most celebrated barber in Seville, and a useful ally in any intrigue, comes up at this moment, and is successfully drawn into the service of Almaviva. The scene closes with Rosina appearing on the balcony and dropping a letter to her lover. The next scene is in the room of Dr. Bartolo's house. Figaro is already acting as a go-between.
He brings Rosina a message from the Count and receives from her a letter in return; the Count is, however, impatient and he presently forces his way into the house disguised as a drunken soldier. But Dr. Bartolo penetrates the disguise and has him arrested, though he quickly orders his release when he realises that the intruder is a Grandee of Spain.