Baltimore Opera Company

Study Guide

Le Nozze di Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro

The Story

Figaro is about to marry fellow servant Susanna, but he learns that their master, Count Almaviva, plans to seduce her. As he discovers this, Bartolo arrives with Marcellina, who insists that Figaro must marry her in repayment for an unpaid debt.

While they argue, the young Cherubino arrives, expressing his love for all woman. Beaumarchais describes him best: "He's entering into adolescence completely unaware and with no understanding of what is happening to him, and throws himself eagerly into everything that comes along." Cherubino hides when Almaviva appears. The Count is furious that Cherubino was flirting with the gardener's daughter. He is further enraged upon overhearing Basilio, the music teacher, mention that Cherubino has a crush on the Countess. After ordering Cherubino to join the army, the Count leaves.

In her bedroom, the Countess plots to regain her husband's waning affections with the help of Figaro and Susanna. Susanna and the Countess disguise Cherubino as Susanna for a secret meeting with the Count. When Susanna leaves to find a ribbon, the Count arrives and is furious that the door is locked. Cherubino quickly hides in a closet, and the Countess lets her husband in. When he hears a noise, she tells him Susanna is in the closet. He doesn't believe her and insists on breaking the wardrobe open. When they leave to get tools, Susanna sneaks in and switches places with Cherubino, who leaps out the window. The Count and Countess return, and both are amazed to find her there. Antonio, the gardener, storms in complaining about the crushed flowers outside the window. Figaro arrives and pretends he sprained his ankle jumping out the window. Just as it seems they've gotten themselves out of the predicament, Bartolo and Basilio arrive with a court summons delaying Figaro and Susanna's wedding.

In the grand hall where the wedding feast is being prepared, Susanna seduces the Count into agreeing to a rendezvous, but he is suspicious, especially when he overhears Susanna and Figaro whispering about their plot. At Figaro's trial, it came to light that he is actually the long-lost son of Marcellina and Bartolo, which of course prevents Figaro from marrying her. Susanna arrives and is overjoyed when told of the news. Figaro and Susanna's wedding commences. In the course of the ceremony, Susanna slips a note to the Count telling him where and when to meet her.

That night, Susanna and Figaro hide in different places in the garden, watching Cherubino's awkward attempts to woo the Countess. The Count arrives and, thinking the Countess is Susanna, chases Cherubino away. Figaro and Susanna, disguised as the Countess, grow demonstrably affectionate. Seeing Figaro with his "wife," the Count is enraged. The Countess reappears and reveals what has actually happened. The Count, embarrassed, realizes that it is actually he who must beg forgiveness, and everyone lives happily ever after.

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