It’s supposed to be the happiest day of Figaro’s life, but he’s in trouble – not least because his boss is making moves on Susanna, his bride-to-be. Can this quick-witted couple outsmart their master?
The Marriage of Figaro is the quintessential country house comedy. Mozart’s sublime music fizzes with comedic high spirits and plumbs the depths of emotion, expressing the joy and pain of love and the agony and ecstasy of desire.
This new production marks the Opera North debut of American director Louisa Muller, with designs by Madeleine Boyd, whose previous work for the Company includes A Little Night Music and La traviata.
Running time
Approximately 3 hours
Language
Sung in Italian with English titles
Age guidance and content warning
Parental Guidance, contains some adult themes and humour
Become a Friend today and take advantage of our priority booking
Join our Under 30s membership today for £10 tickets and priority booking
*Prices vary by venue. Booking fees may apply.
In Leeds
Opera packages from 6 May
General on-sale from 20 June
Sign up to hear when tickets go on sale.
On Tour
Newcastle Theatre Royal from 4 April
The Lowry and Theatre Royal, Nottingham from 14 May
Hull New Theatre from 20 June
Figaro and Susanna, both servants to Count Almaviva, are soon to be married. Susanna is worried that the Count will exercise his feudal right to bed any of his servant girls before the night of their wedding but Figaro vows to outmanoeuvre the Count’s advances.
The old house keeper Marcellina demands that Figaro repay his overdue loan. She reminds him that he had vowed to marry her if unable to pay.
The Count’s page, Cherubino asks Susanna for help. The Count had caught him with the gardener’s daughter and as punishment, intends to send him away for military service.
Figaro sends an anonymous letter to the Count, warning him of adulterers, in the hopes of distracting him during the wedding that evening.
The Countess is lamenting her husband’s infidelity when Susanna arrives with Cherubino, planning to disguise him as a woman and entrap the Count in an act of infidelity. As they are finding a dress for him, the Count suddenly appears, highly suspicious after reading Figaro’s letter. Cherubino only just escapes.
Marcellina arrives to demand that Figaro honours his promise and marry her. The Count happily announces that the wedding is postponed until Figaro’s debt is resolved.
The Count orders Figaro to honour his promise and marry Marcellina. However, Figaro argues that he cannot marry without the permission of his parents, which he cannot obtain because he was stolen from them as a baby. Marcellina comes to realise that Figaro is in fact her own long-lost son. Everybody rejoices and Figaro’s debt is called off.
Susanna and the Countess hatch a plan of their own to entrap the Count. They send him a letter, inviting him to meet Susanna that night in the garden…
The Countess and Susanna swap clothes in order to fool the Count. When he arrives in the garden and sees his wife disguised as Susanna, he declares his love for her. Figaro arrives and recognises his bride disguised as the Countess. The Count witnesses Figaro proudly declaring his love to her and fooled by the disguise, shouts for the guards.
Everybody flocks to the commotion, as the Count demands that Figaro be arrested for seducing his wife. Suddenly the real Countess appears, revealing her true identity and the Count realising he’s been caught red-handed begs for forgiveness…
Figaro (ex. 19, 21, 26, 28 March)
Susanna (EX. 18 Feb, 5, 7, 12, 14 March)
Susanna (18 Feb, 5, 7, 12, 14 March)
Countess Almaviva
Count Almaviva
Cherubino
Marcellina
Antonio
Conductor (ex. 7, 18 Feb, 5, 7 March)
Conductor (7, 18 Feb, 5, 7 March)
Director
Set & Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
