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The Marriage of Figaro is an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1786, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It is considered one of the greatest operas ever written and consistently ranks among the top ten most frequently performed operas. The opera is a comedic tale of matrimonial mayhem and mischief, taking place on the wedding day of Figaro and Susanna, who are servants to Count Almaviva. The opera opens with Figaro and Susanna preparing for their wedding, and the plot unfolds with twists and turns, including the Count's attempts to seduce Susanna and reinstate his droit de seigneur, leading to a series of deceptions and hilarious hijinks. With a performance duration of approximately 3 hours, including one intermission, The Marriage of Figaro delights audiences with its witty plot, memorable arias, and sensational score.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Premiere | 1 May 1786, Burgtheater, Vienna |
| Music | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Libretto | Lorenzo Da Ponte |
| Based on | La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro ("The Mad Day, or The Marriage of Figaro") by Pierre Beaumarchais |
| Type | Commedia per musica (opera buffa) |
| Setting | Palace of Count Almaviva near Seville, Spain |
| Duration | Approximately 3 hours |
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The opera's plot
The Marriage of Figaro is an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1786, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It is a sequel to The Barber of Seville and is set several years later, in the palace of Count Almaviva near Seville, Spain. The opera recounts a single "day of madness" on the wedding day of Figaro and Susanna, two servants of Count Almaviva.
The opera opens with Figaro happily measuring the space for the bridal bed in the room that the Count has offered to the couple as their first shared dwelling. Susanna, however, is less than pleased with the arrangement, as the room is located between the Count's and the Countess's chambers. She suspects that the Count is trying to seduce her and that he might reinstate the old tradition of droit de seigneur, the feudal right of a lord to bed a servant girl on her wedding night before her husband can sleep with her. Figaro is shocked at the accusation but soon learns of the Count's intentions when Susanna's singing teacher, Don Basilio, urges her to be open to the Count's advances.
Figaro, Susanna, and the Countess, whose husband is also chasing other women, conspire to embarrass and expose the Count. Figaro sends an anonymous letter to the Count, warning him of his wife's rendezvous with an admirer that evening. They plan to have Cherubino, the page boy, dress up as a girl and take Susanna's place, so that the Count will be humiliated when he arrives for the rendezvous. The Countess agrees to the plan and begins preparing Cherubino for the evening's assignation. However, the Count interrupts them and demands an explanation. The Countess hides Cherubino, who then escapes by jumping out of the window.
The Count returns to confront his wife about the anonymous letter, and the couple's argument is interrupted by Antonio the gardener, who complains that someone jumped out of the window and squashed his hydrangeas. Figaro, thinking quickly, claims that it was he who jumped out of the window. Meanwhile, Marcellina and Dr Bartolo arrive, seeking to stop the wedding. Marcellina has a contract stating that Figaro must either repay the money he owes her or marry her himself. During the ensuing hearing, it is revealed that Figaro is the long-lost illegitimate son of Bartolo and Marcellina, leading to a touching scene of reconciliation.
During the celebrations, Susanna enters with a payment to release Figaro from his debt to Marcellina. Seeing Figaro and Marcellina celebrating together, Susanna mistakenly believes that Figaro now prefers Marcellina to her and has a tantrum. Marcellina explains, and Susanna, realizing her mistake, joins the celebration. Bartolo, overcome with emotion, agrees to marry Marcellina that evening in a double wedding.
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The music
The Marriage of Figaro is an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1786, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It is considered one of the greatest operas ever written and is a cornerstone of the repertoire. The music is a remarkable marriage of Mozart's musical genius, with the opera's libretto focusing on timeless issues embedded in a frothy drawing-room comedy.
The opera is a comedic masterpiece, with Mozart's music enhancing the witty and intricate plot. It is a chaotic whirlwind of mistaken identities, twists and turns, taking place on the wedding day of Figaro and Susanna. The music begins with the famous overture in the key of D major and a tempo marking of presto (quick). This sets the tone for the opera, which is filled with energetic and lively melodies that reflect the chaotic nature of the story.
Mozart's musical invention conveys a storyline in which the women are portrayed as wiser, shrewder, and more civilized than the men. The music highlights the comedic aspects of the plot, such as the farcical nature of the Count's attempts to seduce Susanna and reinstate his droit de seigneur. The opera also explores the tension between social classes and the sexes, with the music reflecting the underlying pain and deception within the complex world of the story.
The score of The Marriage of Figaro is considered amazing, with a combination of tremendous beauty and elegance, as well as deeper layers of pain and deception. The opera features some of the most memorable arias and songs in the operatic repertoire, including famous arias for the Countess, such as "Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro" ("Grant, love, some comfort"). The opera also includes iconic duets, such as "Cinque, dieci, venti" ("Five, ten, twenty"), and "Se a caso madama la notte ti chiama" ("If the countess should call you during the night"). These duets showcase the relationship between Figaro and Susanna, with their contrasting views on their new living situation.
Overall, the music of The Marriage of Figaro is a testament to Mozart's genius, with its combination of comedic timing, intricate plot enhancement, and exploration of timeless social issues. The score captures the essence of the story, with its beauty, elegance, and underlying tension. The opera's music has stood the test of time and continues to delight audiences today.
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The opera's history
The Marriage of Figaro is an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1786, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna on 1 May 1786. The opera is based on the 1784 stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, titled "La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro" ("The Mad Day, or The Marriage of Figaro").
The opera is a sequel to The Barber of Seville and is set several years later, recounting a single "day of madness" in the palace of Count Almaviva near Seville, Spain. The plot revolves around the servants Figaro and Susanna, who are set to marry, and their scheming employer, Count Almaviva, who is trying to seduce Susanna. Figaro, Susanna, and the Countess conspire to embarrass the Count and expose his philandering ways.
The opera is known for its witty and intricate plot, with mistaken identities, twists and turns, and farcical elements. It explores themes of class and gender dynamics, with the women portrayed as wiser and more civilized than the men. The music is renowned, with a famous overture and memorable arias that enhance the comedic and dramatic moments of the story.
The Marriage of Figaro is considered one of the greatest operas ever written and is a cornerstone of the opera repertoire. It consistently ranks among the top ten most frequently performed operas. The opera typically runs for approximately 3 hours, including one intermission, and is performed in Italian with English translations provided.
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The characters
The Marriage of Figaro is a comedic opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1786. It is a sequel to The Barber of Seville, continuing the story of Count Almaviva, Rosina, and Figaro several years later. The opera is set in the palace of Count Almaviva near Seville, Spain, and recounts a single ""day of madness"" on the wedding day of Figaro and Susanna.
The opera's plot revolves around the schemes and deceptions of the various characters, with the women portrayed as wiser and more civilized than the men. Here is a more detailed look at the main characters:
Figaro: Figaro is the title character of the opera and the head of Count Almaviva's servant staff. He is a clever and resourceful character who devises plans to outwit the Count and expose his philandering ways. Figaro is appalled by the Count's advances towards his bride-to-be, Susanna, and conspires with her and the Countess to embarrass the Count. He also has to deal with the obstacle of Marcellina, who claims he owes her money and must marry her to repay the debt.
Susanna: Susanna is Figaro's bride-to-be and the Countess's maid. She is an intelligent and shrewd character who plays a crucial role in the schemes to expose the Count's infidelity. She is aware of the Count's advances towards her and works with Figaro to foil his plans. Susanna is also skilled with her hands, sewing her wedding bonnet herself.
Count Almaviva: Count Almaviva is the philandering and scheming employer of Figaro and Susanna. He persistently tries to seduce Susanna and reinstate the old tradition of "droit de seigneur," which gives him the right to bed a servant girl on her wedding night. He is portrayed as a bullying and skirt-chasing baritone, a degeneration from the romantic youth he was in The Barber of Seville.
The Countess: The Countess, formerly known as Rosina, is Count Almaviva's wife. She is devastated by her husband's infidelity and conspires with Figaro and Susanna to expose his schemes. She plays a pivotal role in the plan to embarrass the Count by dressing Cherubino as a girl and luring him into an illicit rendezvous.
Cherubino: Cherubino is the page boy who is often at the centre of the drama. He is dismissed for being caught alone with Barbarina, the gardener's daughter. However, Figaro ensures that he remains close by, as he is an important part of the plan to embarrass the Count.
Marcellina: Marcellina is Dr. Bartolo's old housemaid, and she arrives with him at the palace looking for the Count. She has a contract stating that Figaro owes her money and must either repay her or marry her. She ends up discovering that Figaro is her long-lost son, leading to a touching scene of reconciliation.
Dr. Bartolo: Dr. Bartolo is seeking revenge against Figaro for thwarting his plans to marry Rosina (now the Countess) in The Barber of Seville. He arrives at the palace with Marcellina, intending to stop the wedding between Figaro and Susanna.
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The setting
The opera is a sequel to The Barber of Seville, taking place several years later, and the setting reflects this continuity. Rosina, who was set to marry Bartolo in the previous opera, is now the countess, married to Count Almaviva. The setting of the prequel, Seville, was famous in Mozart's time as a place filled with "hot-blooded young men and exotically beautiful women sequestered behind latticed windows". This city was also the birthplace of the Don Juan legends, which Mozart and Da Ponte would later draw on for their masterpiece, Don Giovanni.
The opera opens with a scene in a partly furnished room, with a chair in the centre. Figaro is measuring the space for the marital bed, while Susanna is trying on her wedding bonnet. This room is to be their first shared dwelling as man and wife, and it is located between the Count's chambers and the Countess's. Figaro is pleased with the room, but Susanna is less so, due to its proximity to the Count.
The action of the opera centres around the attempts of Figaro and Susanna to get married, while foiling the efforts of their philandering employer, Count Almaviva, to seduce Susanna. The Count is trying to reinstate the old tradition of droit de seigneur, or droit du seigneur, the feudal right of a lord to sleep with his servant girl on her wedding night before her husband can sleep with her. Figaro and Susanna conspire with the Countess to embarrass the Count and expose his scheming.
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Frequently asked questions
The opera 'The Marriage of Figaro' runs for approximately 3 hours, including one intermission.
The opera is based on the 1784 stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, 'La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro' ('The Mad Day, or The Marriage of Figaro').
The music for 'The Marriage of Figaro' was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
'The Marriage of Figaro' is a comedic opera that takes place on the wedding day of Figaro and Susanna. The opera portrays the women as wiser and more civilised than the men, and the plot involves mistaken identities, twists and turns.
