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From the first notes of its familiar overture, audiences are captivated by Rossini’s romantic comedy The Barber of Seville. The music, now part of our popular culture does not fail to make most people smile. It’s a rollicking adventure of disguises, dodges and mistaken identities. Plans are delayed, plots are thwarted and all to the eventual triumph of young, joyful love.
I cannot tell a lie here... while I, like everyone, know this music from a cartoon, when I see this opera it leaves me floating on air with its joyful conclusion and delicious score for days!
Each bead and charm of the Barber of Seville Opera Bracelet represents a character or moment from Rossini's delightful opera. Some of the most important beads and charms are described below and you can see all of the symbolic descriptions on the spiral chart photo above or to the left. Also, a story chart explaining the symbolism of the beads and charms accompanies every bracelet. Click here to see the chart.
- Lindoro/Count Almaviva is a golden faceted bead. A music charm evokes his serenading of Rosina. A blue heart represents his his worry about getting a woman to love him for himself, not just his money. A swirling heart is his true love for Rosina.
- I chose a bead of many colors to symbolize Figaro and signify his many skills and talents. Scissors symbolize his main occupation as a barber.
- Blue and green beads symbolize Bartolo and his accomplice Basilio, while a silky ivory oval bead is the plan to marry Rosina to Bartolo.
- Rosina is a rose colored glass pearl, evoking her name. Pink hearts indicate her love for Lindoro and a letter charm is the note she send to him via Figaro.
- Bartolo’s suspicions are indicated by black bi-cone beads. The love note/laundry list is a square white bead. A swirling black bead is his fury and the general consternation at the end of Act 1. A question mark represents his confusion when the “soldier” is not arrested.
- The music note symbolizes Lindoro as music teacher; the key is part of the elopement plan hatched by Figaro and the lovers. A sunburst millefiore bead indicates the plan to elope. This bead also represents Rosina’s hope on the Marriage of Figaro Opera Bracelet.
- A white cats eye bead represents servant Berta who is the witness to all the madness going on in Bartolo’s house.
- Rosina’s fury at having been deceived is a swirly red faceted bead. A grey crackle bead is the storm that reflects her emotions.
- A red heart and marriage certificate represent the lovers’ happy union and thwarting of Bartolo!
