Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage Of Figaro)

Act I

There are cheerful wedding preparations in the house of count Almaviva. The valet of count Figaro marries Susanna — the servant of the countess. The count likes Susanna, and he wishes to gain her favour. Figaro learns from the maid Susanna that their philandering employer has designs on her and he  vows to outwit his master.

But Figaro have also other enemies. Old Bartolo still cannot forget how deftly his former barber tricked him, helping Almaviva to marry his ward Rosine. Aged housekeeper Marcellina  wants Figaro to marry her. They both hope that the count, angry by obstinacy of Susanna, will help them. Marcellina meets Susanna with ceremonious bows and spiteful compliments. But she just laughs at the housekeeper.

Cherubino appears. The young page of the count is enamoured in all women of the castle. He idolizes the countess, but wishes to court Susanna. Today he has come to her to share his grief: the count has caught him with young Barbarina, the gardener Antonio's daughter, and has banished them from the castle.

Suddenly the count shows up and Cherubino hides. The count again begs Susanna to respond to his love, but suddenly there is a knock at the door. It is a schemer Basilio. He hints the count at love of Cherubino to the countess, thereby causing the feeling of jealousy in Almaviva. The count with indignation tells Susanna and Basilio about the tricks of the page and suddenly sees the hidden Cherubino. The count is angered, and in punishment orders to send Cherubino immediately on military service. Figaro consoles the young man with the story about "delights" of an army life.

Act 2

The countess is grieved by indifference of her husband. Suzanne's story about his infidelity deeply hurts her heart. Sincerely sympathising with the housemaid and her groom, the countess willingly accepts the plan of Figaro — call the count in the garden at night and send on a date to him Cherubino instead of Susanna, disguised as a woman. Susanna immediately begins to dress up the page.

Sudden occurrence of the count throw all of them into confusion; they hide Cherubino in the next room. Surprised with confusion of the wife, the count demands to open the closed door. The countess refuses, assuring that there is Susanna. Jealous suspicions of the count increase. Having decided to break a door, he leaves on searches of the suitable tool. At this time Susanna releases Cherubino from his refuge. In fear poor page jumps out of the window.

Returned count finds Susanna behind the closed door, laughing at his suspicions. He is forced to apologize to his wife. Figaro runs in and informs that guests already have gathered. But the count in every possible way delays the wedding beginning — he waits for appearance of Marcellina. The housekeeper advance a claim to Figaro: she demands to repay her an old debt immediately or to marry her. The wedding of Figaro and Susanna is postponed.

Act 3

The court settles the case in favor of Marcellina. The count triumphs. But then suddenly it turns out that Figaro is a native son of Marcellina and Bartolo, kidnapped by bandits in the childhood. The touched parents of Figaro decide to get married.  The countess and Susanna haven’t left the idea to teach the count a good lesson. The countess decides to put a servant dress on herself and to go on a night date. Under her dictation Susanna writes a note, making to the count an appointment in the garden. During the celebration Barbarina should pass this note.

Act 4

Figaro chuckles over his master, but learning from Barbarina that the note was written by Susanna, begins to suspect his bride in deception. In the dark of the night garden he learns disguised Susanna, but pretends that he takes her for the countess. The count does not recognize his wife, changed as a servant, and drugs her into the bower. Seeing as Figaro, which makes the imaginary countess a declaration of love, he makes a noise, calls people to publicly expose his wife of infidelity. But here appears the real countess without a mask. Count Almaviva is disgraced and asks his wife for forgiveness. The countess yield to his entreaties, and the day ends with a cheerful celebration of three weddings: Figaro and Susanna, Figaro's parents, and also young Cherubino and Barbarina.