Le nozze di Figaro

Act I

Figaro measures out the room that the Count has promised as quarters for him and Susanna once they are married. Susanna reveals that the Count desires to exercise his historical droit de seigneur entitling him to sleep with her on her wedding night, despite the fact that the Count has formally renounced that right. Figaro now realises why the Count is keen to have Figaro and Susanna accompany him when he is posted to London as an ambassador.

This is not the only cloud on the horizon of the wedding day. Figaro once borrowed money from Marcellina and by way of collateral promised to marry her if he could not repay her. Marcellina, aided and abetted by Bartolo, is now calling in her debt.

The next person we are introduced to is the young Cherubino. He is a page who is being banished from the castle, because the Count had discovered him in the chamber of Barbarina, another servant girl. Cherubino is in fact in love with the Countess and hopes to appeal to her to solve his predicament. The Count suddenly enters, upon which Cherubino hides behind a chair and hears the Count ask Susanna to a secret assignation in the garden. Then Basilio, the music teacher, enters. The Count also hides and eventually discovers the presence of Cherubino.

Meanwhile, Figaro has come up with a way to trump the Count’s scheme: he brings a group of peasants to praise the Count for his renouncing of his droit de seigneur. Outflanked, the Count has no choice but to agree to Figaro and Susanna’s wedding. Round one to Figaro, but the threat of having to marry Marcellina has not yet been averted.

Act II

The act opens with the Countess complaining that her husband does not love her any more.

Figaro has already come up with a new plan: if the Count were to receive an anonymous letter revealing that the Countess is to meet her secret lover in the evening, he would become so jealous that he would forget all about Susanna. And if Susanna agreed to the assignation with the Count but the Count were met not by Susanna but by Cherubino in disguise, and if the Countess were then to surprise them, the Count would be mortified.

Susanna begins to dress up Cherubino as a woman. The Count, having already received the anonymous letter, tries to get in. The Countess refuses to unlock the door, explaining that Susanna is trying on clothes. The Count is not convinced and tries to break down the door. Cherubino leaps out of the open window in desperation and is replaced by Susanna. The jealous Count is let in and is amazed to discover that it is indeed Susanna in the Countess’s quarters.

The gardener, however, has seen a man jumping out of the window, at which point Figaro hastily claims that he was the one who jumped. But Cherubino’s military commission papers have also been found in the garden, and Figaro is hard pressed for an explanation. The Countess is off the hook, but Figaro is trapped as Marcellina and Bartolo enter brandishing the marriage agreement and the Count orders it to be executed forthwith.

Act III

The Countess tells Susanna to notify the Count about the assignation in the garden. Figaro enters and Susanna tells him that their case is already won. The Count hears this, realises he is being duped and decides to punish everyone involved.

Figaro refuses to marry Marcellina without permission from his real parents, which is unavailable to him because he is a foundling, abducted as a child. The only proof of his origin that he can present is a birthmark on his right hand. Marcellina and Bartolo are shocked, recognising the birthmark and realising that Figaro is their long-lost son! Marcellina and Bartolo decide to get married.

The Countess wonders what is keeping Susanna and sings of happy days gone by. Antonio, the gardener, reports to the Count that Cherubino is still at the castle, showing his hat as proof.

The Countess dictates a letter to Susanna specifying an assignation with the Count in the evening. The women seal the letter with a pin that the Count is to return as a mark of acceptance.

Barbarina enters with a chorus of girls. The Countess is particularly pleased with Barbarina’s cousin, who looks strangely familiar. She turns out to be Cherubino, dressed as a girl. The Count is about to punish him, but Barbarina reminds him that the Count had promised to grant her a wish when she let him kiss her. Her wish is to marry Cherubino.

A double wedding is celebrated: Figaro and Susanna, and Marcellina and Bartolo. Susanna slips the letter to the Count during the dance.

Act IV

In the garden in the twilight, Barbarina is looking for a pin she dropped. Figaro knows that the pin came from the Count’s letter. Suspicious about Susanna’s intentions, he decides to eavesdrop on the meeting.

The Countess and Susanna have exchanged clothes, but Figaro does not know this; he assumes that it is Susanna singing to the Count and curses her for her apparent infidelity. Cherubino, on the other hand, mistakes the Countess for Susanna and tries to kiss her. The Count sees Susanna (as the Countess) leaving with Figaro, he accuses Susanna (as he thinks) of betraying him. But then the Countess (as Susanna) arrives, and the Count finally realises what is going on and begs for forgiveness. All the misunderstandings have been cleared up, and everyone is forgiven. The mad day has come to an end.