Raquelle

Synopsis
The Marriage of Figaro
Continued from page 17
Emboldened, Susanna leads the Count
on with promises of a rendezvous in the
garden. He grows doubtful however, when
he spies her conspiring with Figaro and vows
revenge. Barbarina convinces Cherubino
to come to her house to disguise himself
as a girl so he can stay in the palace.
The Countess enters, wondering if the
plan to catch the Count will work, and
recalling sadly the loss of their love.
Marcellina and Bartolo arrive with Don
Curzio, a lawyer. He announces that Figaro
must either marry Marcellina or repay the
loan. However, it is revealed that Figaro is
actually Marcellina’s son. Marcellina and
Figaro embrace, provoking Susanna until
she too learns the truth. A double wedding
can now be celebrated: Figaro and Susanna,
and Dr. Bartolo and Marcellina.
The Countess then joins Susanna in
composing a letter that invites the Count
to the garden that night. They seal the note
with a pin, which the Count is to return if he
agrees to meet her. Barbarina and a chorus
of young girls (including Cherubino in
disguise) come to pay homage to the
Countess, and then everybody assembles
for the wedding festivities.
The Count’s spirits rise when he receives,
during the course of the ceremony, the
letter from Susanna. Figaro notices that
the Count is preoccupied with a letter,
but cannot guess who has sent it, and he
retrieves the pin, which the Count drops
when he pricks his finger on it.
Act IV
The garden of the castle. Figaro and
Marcellina happen upon Barbarina who is
searching for the pin that the Count asked
her to return to Susanna. Figaro is not aware
that the Countess has been sufficiently
affected by her husband’s behaviour to
make a plan of her own and when he
discovers that Susanna appears to have
suggested a secret meeting with the Count,
he is furious. He, of course, does not know
that the Count will be meeting not Susanna,
but the Countess in Susanna’s clothes. Basilio
counsels that it is wise to play the fool, and
Figaro complains about women and leaves.
Susanna, alone, rhapsodizes on her love
for Figaro, but he, overhearing, thinks she
means the Count. Susanna hides in time
to see Cherubino woo the Countess – now
disguised in Susanna’s dress. The Count
enters makes a passionate declaration
of love to ‘Susanna.’ Figaro enters and
recognizes Susanna disguised as the
Countess. He then behaves as if he believes
she is the Countess and declares his ardent
love for her. Outraged, the Count calls
everyone to witness his denunciation of
his faithless wife, but the real countess
appears and reveals the ruse. Realizing
he is mistaken and has been found out,
he asks the Countess for her forgiveness,
which she grants him and all celebrate
the end of a crazy day.
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