Le nozze di Figaro

Act I
In the Palazzo Aguas Frescas. Figaro, valet to Count Almaviva, is about to marry Susanna, the Countess’s maid. But while the celebrations are being prepared, obstacles arise and plots are woven. The Count, a fickle husband, attempts to seduce Susanna and dreams of reestablishing the “droit du seigneur”over young brides; he is aided in his plotting by unscrupulous Basilio, the music master. There is also Marcellina, “housekeeper at the castle”, who has lent money to Figaro in return for a promise of marriage; with the support of the doctor Bartolo, who bears an old grudge against Figaro, she intends to assert her rights. Cherubino, the vivacious and mischievous page, is in love with all women and especially the Countess, his “beautiful godmother”. He is chased from the castle by the Count, who has surprised him with Barbarina, the gardener’s daughter. He comes to beg Susanna to intercede for him with the Countess, but the Count arrives hoping to obtain an assignation with Susanna. On his approach, the page hides behind an armchair. The arrival of Basilio obliges Almaviva to hide in his turn, but he leaps out when he hears Basilio refer to Cherubino’s passion for the Countess. The page is soon discovered; the Count gives him a commission and orders him to join his regiment without delay.

Act II
The Countess, abandoned by her husband, is ready to assist Figaro and Susanna in their plan to marry as soon as possible thereby thwarting Almaviva. They intend to send an anonymous letter causing the Count to worry about his wife’s conduct; then to send the page disguised as a girl to the assignation he has made with the maid. In the Countess’ bedchamber, Cherubino dresses in woman’s clothing and sings his “romance”. The banter is interrupted by the arrival of the Count, who, alerted by the note, is jealous. The page escapes via the window. The Count, mad with rage, enters his wife’s chamber to discover not a man but Susanna. Everything would be all right if it were not for Antonio, the gardener, who has seen Cherubino jump from the window onto his flower beds. The Count feels he has been tricked. Marcellina arrives with Bartolo and Basilio giving him the opportunity to avenge himself; he promises to see that the contract is honoured: Figaro will marry Marcellina.

Act III
Susanna pretends to accept the Count’s assignation, but manifests her joy at deceiving him too loudly. He hears her and his wounded pride makes him swear more than ever to defend Marcellina’s cause. The judge Don Curzio arrives and condemns Figaro to marry Marcellina if he cannot pay his debt. But there is a turn of events when it is discovered that Figaro is none other than the son of Marcellina and Bartolo. Meanwhile, the Countess, awaiting Susanna’s return, is consumed with melancholy. Susanna returns. She writes a letter to the Count, dictated by the Countess, giving the time and place of the assignation: it is the Countess who will be there dressed in her maid’s clothes. Cherubino, in disguise, mingles with the young girls who have come to offer flowers to the Countess. He is unmasked. But the Count stifles his anger as the joyful bridal procession arrives for the ceremony. During the festivities, Susanna hands the Count the note dictated by the Countess.

Act IV
Barbarina informs Figaro, who is unaware of the deception, of the meeting between the Count and Susanna. Worried, he hides upon the arrival of the Countess and Susanna (who have exchanged clothes). He observes and listens. The disguises and the darkness create a series of misunderstandings. Remarks, slaps and kisses are all bestowed on the wrong people. Cherubino takes the Countess for Susanna; then it is the turn of the Count to make his long awaited declaration to the woman he takes for the maid, while Figaro throws himself at the feet of the so-called Countess. Figaro and Susanna are spotted by the Count, who believes he is being cuckolded and in a fury summons his men. To his great confusion, he discovers that it is to his wife that he has been addressing his passionate declarations of love. Everyone’s true identity is revealed and the pardon granted by the true Countess puts an end to the turmoil and emotion of this “mad day”.