Baltimore Opera Company

Study Guide

Le Nozze di Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro

Seville Then and Now

E. Meredith Reid

During the 18th century, the countryside around Seville was primarily rural, and the local economy centered on sheep, olives, and oranges, which are primarily used for marmalade due to their sour flavor. This area has traditionally been one of the poorest in all of Spain. After the abolishment in 1786 of the shepherds' "Honorable Company of the Mesta" (an early version of what we would refer to as a union), few positive steps were taken to reclaim the vast tracts of land used for sheep grazing, which depleted the natural flora and resulted in large regions of wilderness. Consequently, the countryside never properly recovered from the overuse and remains infertile.

Seville, the largest city in the region, is a mixture of Moorish, Jewish, Christian, and Gypsy peoples. It is home to the third largest cathedral in the world, after St. Paul's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. The Alcazar palace, built on the site of a Moorish citadel in the 14th century, is one of the wonders of the area; even Generalissimo Franco was said to enjoy an occasional holiday there. Another point of interest is the old Jewish Quarter of Santa Cruz, with its narrow streets, tiny squares, wrought iron grilles, flowers, palms, and orange trees.

Due to the heterogeneous mixture of peoples in the area, Seville has a rich cultural tradition. It is the home of flamenco dancing and one of the most important centers of bullfighting. It is no doubt this rich blend of cultures and people which has caused Seville to be such an irresistible setting for so many authors, dramatists, and composers.

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