Salzburg Festival: Le nozze di Figaro

ACT I
Figaro and Susanna are preparing for their wedding. Almaviva, Figaro’s employer, intends to give the couple a room as a wedding gift. Surprised at his naivety, Susanna points out to Figaro that Almaviva has his eyes set on Susanna and would enjoy easy access to this room. Figaro is shocked and resolves to keep Almaviva away from her. Marcellina plots a blackmail scheme with Bartolo: having lent Figaro a large sum of money, she plans to force him into signing a marriage contract with her. Cherubino, consumed by a desire for love, asks Susanna to put in a good word for him with Almaviva’s wife Rosina, for whom Susanna works. Almaviva had previously caught Cherubino in Barbarina’s room and sent him away. Cherubino envies Susanna for being in close contact to Rosina through her work, and shows her a song he has written in which he expresses his infatuation for Rosina and other women. When Almaviva enters at just this moment, Cherubino hides from him. Almaviva confesses his love for Susanna, which she has already learned about through Basilio, and offers her money for a rendezvous in the garden. Basilio comes in, and Almaviva also hides himself. Basilio’s words pique his jealousy, however, and he angrily emerges from his hiding place. As he describes how he stumbled on Cherubino in Barbarina’s room, he unexpectedly discovers the young man here too — and realizes that Cherubino has overheard his conversation with Susanna. Figaro enlists the help of several others to stage an exaggerated gesture of gratitude for Almaviva’s restraint towards his bride. A dis gruntled Almaviva plays along and promises to throw a lavish party for his employee’s wedding. Cherubino is packed off under protest to join Almaviva’s associates.

ACT II
Susanna tells Rosina about the money Almaviva offered her, which makes Rosina even more downhearted about the cooling of her husband’s affections. Figaro then reveals his plan to them: Basilio will present Almaviva with a letter accusing his wife of having an affair. At the same time, Susanna should acquiesce to Almaviva’s wish for a rendezvous in the garden, to be attended by Cherubino dressed as Susanna, so that Almaviva can be caught by his wife. Sceptically, the two women agree. Cherubino enters and is persuaded to sing his ardent song. Susanna and Rosina gleefully go about undressing him for the exchange of clothes. They are startled by the sound of Almaviva’s voice on the other side of the door, wondering why it is locked. With Susanna having left the room shortly before, Cherubino is quickly hidden away in the adjoining room. Almaviva hears a noise from this room and pressures his wife to open the door. She tells him that Susanna is trying on her wedding dress and must not be disturbed. Furious, he threatens to break down the door. He leaves the room to look for a suitable implement, taking his wife with him and locking the door. Susanna, who has returned unnoticed in the meantime, goes to fetch Cherubino from the adjoining room, and the two anxiously try to find a way for him to escape. In the end, he jumps out of the window, and Susanna locks herself in the room. Almaviva returns with his wife, who now explains to him that the person in the adjoining room is not Susanna but Cherubino. Before he tries to force open the door, Susanna steps out, surprising them both. Almaviva asks his wife for forgiveness, and Susanna assures her that Cherubino is safe and sound. Figaro announces that the musicians for the wedding have arrived. Almaviva asks him who sent the letter he received from Basilio. Figaro at first denies knowing anything about it, only to be informed by the two women that they already told Almaviva who wrote the letter. Almaviva then questions Antonio, who reports that he saw a man jumping out of the window. Figaro pretends to have jumped himself. With the assistance of Basilio, Marcellina and Bartolo demand that Figaro honour the contract he signed. Almaviva promises to look over the contract.

ACT III
Almaviva is puzzled by the events that have unfolded and tries to make sense of them. His wife urges Susanna to see Almaviva and confirm their garden rendez­ vous in person, during which they express affection for each other. However, Almaviva begins to doubt Susanna’s sincerity and hopes that Marcellina’s schemes will succeed. His wife now plans to exchange clothes with Susanna and come along to the rendezvous, so as to catch her husband in the act. Feeling wistful, she longs for the happy moments of her marriage. In their efforts to examine Marcellina’s contract, Almaviva and Curzio insist that Figaro is obliged to either pay Marcellina or marry her. The situation changes dramatically when Marcellina and Bartolo claim to be Figaro’s parents. Susanna informs Rosina that she has confirmed the rendezvous with her husband. The two write to Almaviva, instructing him to return the pin that fastens their letter. This is given to him at the celebrations, where an enraged Antonio runs into Cherubino, who has defied Almaviva and still not left.

ACT IV
Barbarina desperately searches for the pin, which Almaviva gave her to return to Susanna. Figaro talks her into revealing the circumstances behind the letter and discovers the lost pin. As he is unaware of Rosina and Susanna’s intentions, his jealousy grows. Barbarina goes into the garden. There, Figaro informs Basilio and Bartolo of his plan to surprise Susanna during her rendezvous with Almaviva. Alone with his thoughts, he complains that all women are unfaithful. Susanna and Rosina enter the garden, disguised in each other’s clothes to trick Almaviva. Marcellina also arrives and hides herself. Figaro overhears Susanna luring her lover into nature and feels betrayed. Cherubino comes across ‘Susanna’, but his advances are re- buffed. Almaviva makes a move, offering her compliments and a ring. She notices Figaro and disappears. Figaro approaches the disguised Susanna, soon recog- nizing her true identity, but keeps up the pretence for a while before asking his bride to make peace. With Susanna still disguised as Rosina, the couple stage a flirtatious interaction in front of Almaviva, who loudly calls for help and threatens punishment. He angrily rejects everyone’s pleas for forgiveness. When his wife reveals herself, the tables are turned, and Almaviva now begs for her forgiveness, which she grants him. Everyone makes their way to the wedding celebration.