Contract drawn up to Rossini by Duke Sforza Cesarini, impresario of the Teatro Argentina in Rome, for the Barbiere di Siviglia

"Nobil Teatro di Torre Argentina, On the day of 26 December 1815. […] Duke Sforza Cesarini Impresario of the above-mentioned theatre affirms and states for the coming Carnival season of the year 1816 = Maestro Giovacchino Rossini, who promises and undertakes to compose and stage the Second Dramma Buffo that will be performed during the said coming Carnival in the said Theatre, on a libretto that will be given him by the said Impresario, either new, or old, in the first days of January, which the said Maestro Rossini will put to music in accordance with the qualities and suitability of the Singers, binding himself to compose if needed all the variations that prove necessary for the success of the Music, as well as for the circumstances and suitability for the said Singers, at the sole request of the impresario, it being so and not otherwise. Also this Maestro Rossini promises and undertakes to come and [stay] in Rome to fulfil the said commission no later than the end of the Month of December of the current Year, and consign to the Copyist the entirely completed First Act on the 20th of the Month of January 1816, [until] the 26th of January to be ready for the rehearsals and concerts, and perform on the evening that will be set by the said Impresario, but no later than about the 5th of February of the said Year, and thus the Maestro shall similarly consign to the Copyist in due time, the Second Act to have time to learn to perform it, and rehearse it to be fit to go onstage on the evening […] mentioned above, otherwise the Maestro will be subject to all the damages, it being so and not otherwise. The same Maestro Rossini will be equally obliged, and as agreed promises and undertakes to conduct his aforesaid work, and attend in person all the rehearsals, the concerts, every time and when necessary in the Theatre or elsewhere at the will of the Impresario and similarly […] the three first consecutive evenings that his Opera [will go] onstage, to conduct it at the harpsichord because it is so agreed and not otherwise. Then in remuneration of his virtuous efforts the Impresario promises and undertakes to pay Maestro Rossini the Sum amounting to Four Hundred Roman Scudi, as soon as he has completed the three evenings of his accompaniment on the harpsichord and not otherwise. It is also agreed that in case of [prohibition], or suspension of the Theatre […] or another misfortune, the edict practiced in the Theatres of Rome and other foreign places in similar cases should be observed, it being so and not otherwise. And in conformity with all and every thing contained in the present contract Duke Sforza Cesarini on the one hand, and Maestro Giovacchino Rossini on the other oblige themselves, their possessions and their heirs in the broadest form of the R.C.A., wishing in case of any kind of breach of contract to be held reciprocally to make amends for the damages for which they are obliged in the strictest and most valid forms of any Foreign Place, being so and not otherwise. For full conformity the present will be signed by the Impresario and another similar by. Maestro Giovachino Rossini. And also the Impresario provides lodgings for him during the contract in the same lodgings as for the Sig Luigi Zamboni. Gioacchino Rossini».