Raquelle

Synopsis
The Marriage of Figaro
first performance: Burgtheater, Vienna, May 1, 1786
place: The palace of Count Almaviva, near Seville, Spain
t i m e: Mid-18th Century x language: Italian
Act I
A room in Count Almaviva’s castle. It is
Figaro and Susanna’s wedding day for which
they are preparing and measuring the room
the Count has given them to use as their
bedroom. Susanna tells Figaro that it is too
near the Count’s and that the Count has his
eye on her. Susanna leaves, and Figaro
resolves to turn the tables on the Count.
Dr. Bartolo, the Countess’s ex-guardian,
and Marcellina, now in the Count’s service,
enter. They wish to prevent Figaro’s
marriage and hold him to his agreement:
to marry Marcellina if he cannot repay
a loan. Bartolo exits. Susanna enters and
has a barbed encounter with Marcellina,
who then departs.
The young page Cherubino dashes in and
tells Susanna of his love for the Countess
and in fact, for any woman, during which
the Count enters. Cherubino hides and
the Count flirts with Susanna. On hearing
the music teacher Don Basilio enter, the
Count hides too, and Basilio gossips about
the goings-on in the castle, including
Cherubino’s love for the Countess. Hearing
this, the Count emerges, uncovering
Cherubino as he does so. Realizing that the
young page has overheard his indiscretions
with Susanna, he sends him off to the army.
Figaro arrives, carrying Susanna’s wedding
veil. He is accompanied by villagers who sing
the Count’s praises. Figaro thanks the Count
for renouncing the wedding-night custom
and asks the Count to give Susanna the
veil as a symbol of purity. The Count says
he would prefer to postpone the ceremony
until he can celebrate the occasion
appropriately. After the villagers leave,
Figaro and Susanna try to persuade the
Count to allow Cherubino to stay, but it is
no use. Figaro then tells the boy about the
rigors of military life.
Act II
The Countess’s bedroom. The Countess
mourns of her husband’s waning affections
for her. Figaro and Susanna arrive and tell
the Countess about the Count’s intentions
with Susanna. They devise a plan. The Count
will be given a note that says the Countess
is having an affair. While the Count is
investigating, Figaro and Susanna will be
quickly married. Susanna is to agree to an
assignation with the Count, but Cherubino
is to go instead, disguised in her clothes.
While Cherubino is being dressed, the Count
knocks on the door and Cherubino hides
in the closet. The Countess assures her
husband, when he hears a noise, that it is
Susanna trying on her wedding dress, but
the Count is suspicious. Determined to
open the door by force, he leaves with
the Countess to find the necessary tools,
allowing Susanna to change places with
Cherubino, and Cherubino to escape
through a window. The Count returns,
discovers Susanna, and has to apologize to
his wife for doubting her. The gardener
Antonio bursts in, complaining that
somebody jumped out of the window.
Although Figaro tries to take the blame,
the Count strongly suspects he is being
duped. Antonio produces papers that Figaro
claims were given to him by Cherubino to
have officially sealed. Marcellina enters with
Dr. Bartolo and Basilio to demand justice.
Figaro must marry Marcellina or repay his
debt. The Count must investigate.
Act III
A hall in the palace. The Countess urges
a reluctant Susanna to go ahead with the
plan and tell the Count that she will meet
him in the garden later. Because Cherubino
is gone, the Countess will impersonate
Susanna. After the Countess leaves, Susanna
overhears the Count talking to himself
about Figaro marrying Marcellina.
Continued on page 27
17