The Marriage of Figaro

The action takes place at Count Almaviva's estate, Aguas-Frescas, three leagues outside Seville, Spain.

ACT I
A semi-furnished room  

Figaro and Susanna, servants to the count and Countess Almaviva, prepare for their wedding. Figaro points out the convenience of having a bedroom next to their masters' chambers, but Susanna is more concerned about the count's easy access to her. He has been making advances towards her, a fact of which Figaro is unaware.

Dr. Bartolo, the Countess Almaviva's former guardian, and Bartolo's maid Marcellina, plan to sue Figaro to force him to marry Marcellina as payment for a debt. Bartolo leaves to take revenge on Figaro whom he blames for helping the count steal his ward and intended bride.

When Susanna returns, she is joined by the page Cherubino who is fleeing after the count discovered him with the peasant girl, Barbarina. Hearing the count approach, Cherubino hides. While Susanna tries to avoid her master's attentions, they are interrupted by the arrival of the music teacher, Don Basilio. The count hides in an armchair, but when Basilio insinuates that Cherubino has been paying too much attention to the countess, he comes forward. Soon finding Cherubino, the count orders the page to join his regiment. Figaro quietly tells the page to delay his departure and teases him about his new career.

PAUSE

ACT II
A richly furnished room

The countess laments the loss of the count's love. Susanna and Figaro tell her about their plan to humiliate her husband by making an assignation for him with Susanna. Instead, they will send Cherubino dressed as a woman. The page enters and the two women dress him in female clothing. Shortly after Susanna steps out of the room, the knocks on the door. Cherubino quickly hides in the countess' closet. As the count demands to know why the countess' chambers were locked, he hears a noise from inside the closet. The countess claims that Susanna is there, but when she refuses to open the door, he goes out to find tools to force it open, taking the countess with him.     

Susanna helps Cherubino escape. He jumps out the window, and Susanna takes his place in the closet. The count and countess return, but before he can force open the closet door, Susanna steps out. Figaro enters to lead everyone to the wedding, but the gardener Antonio bursts in, complaining that someone has jumped out the window and damaged his flowers. Thinking quickly, Figaro claims it was he. All seems settled until Marcellina, Bartolo, and Basilio arrive, delivering her lawsuit against Figaro to the count.

INTERMISSION

ACT III
A richly appointed room with two thrones, prepared for a wedding party  

A confused count considers the situation. Susanna approaches and leads the count on, in another effort to entrap him. The count is overjoyed, but when he overhears Susanna and Figaro plotting, he vows that his servant will never get the better of him.      The judge Don Curzio declares that Figaro must either pay Marcellina or marry her. Figaro insists that since he is a foundling of noble birth, he cannot marry without his parents' consent. When he describes his birthmark as proof of his heritage, Marcellina and Bartolo realize that he is their son.     

Antonio informs the count that Cherubino has been seen on the castle grounds. Without Figaro's knowledge, the countess and Susanna compose a letter, inviting the count to an assignation. When a group of local peasant girls come to give the countess flowers, Cherubino is discovered among them. Figaro and Susanna's wedding begins. Susanna slips the count the letter, sealed with a pin that she asks him to return if he accepts their rendezvous.

INTERMISSION

ACT IV
A garden  

Figaro encounters Barbarina, who has lost the pin that the count has asked her to return to Susanna. He assumes that Susanna intends to meet their master and is consumed with jealousy. The countess and Susanna switch clothes to ensnare the count. While hiding, Figaro watches the count pursue the countess, who is disguised as Susanna. Approaching the woman he thinks is the countess, Figaro recognizes Susanna's voice and joins the plot by pretending to seduce her. The count sees this and accuses his wife of infidelity. When all unmask, the count sees that he has been tricked and begs the countess for forgiveness.

World Premiere: Burgtheater, Vienna, Austria, May 1, 1786 

Photos from Sarasota Opera's 2015 production of The Marriage of Figaro, by Rod Millington