Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro

Live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. With Erwin Schrott (Figaro), Mariusz Kwiecien (the Count) and Danielle de Niese (Susanna).

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is widely seen as one of the great comic operas and contains some of his most glorious music. It is an action packed day, the day of Figaro's marriage to Susanna, but is complicated because their master, the philandering Count, has designs on Susanna himself. Erwin Schrott sings the title role in a stellar cast that also includes Mariusz Kwiecien as the Count and Danielle de Niese as Susanna, along with Met debutantes Rachel Willis-S脙rensen as the wronged Countess and Serena Malfi as Cherubino. Edo de Waart conducts.

Presented by Margaret Juntwait and Ira Siff

Countess Almaviva.....Rachel Willis-Sorensen (Soprano)
Susanna.....Danielle de Niese (Soprano)
Cherubino.....Serena Malfi (Mezzo-soprano)
Count Almaviva.....Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Figaro.....Erwin Schrott (Bass)
New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
New York Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Edo de Waart (Conductor).

3 hours, 30 minutes

Synopsis

Act I
Count Almaviva鈥檚 country estate near Seville, late 18th century. The servants Figaro and Susanna are preparing for their wedding. Figaro is furious when his bride tells him that the count has made advances toward her and vows to outwit his master (鈥淪e vuol ballare鈥). The scheming Dr. Bartolo appears with his housekeeper, Marcellina, who wants Figaro to marry her. When she runs into Susanna, the two women trade insults. The page Cherubino enters; finding Susanna alone, he explains to her that he is in love with all women (鈥淣on so pi霉鈥). He hides when the count鈥攚ho is angry because he caught Cherubino flirting with Barbarina, the gardener鈥檚 daughter鈥攕hows up. The count again pursues Susanna, but conceals himself when the music master, Basilio, approaches. When Basilio tells Susanna that Cherubino has a crush on the countess, the count furiously steps forward. He becomes further enraged when he discovers the page in the room. Figaro returns with a group of peasants who praise the count for renouncing the traditional feudal right of a nobleman to take the place of a manservant on his wedding night. The count orders Cherubino to join his regiment in Seville and leaves Figaro to cheer up the unhappy adolescent (鈥淣on pi霉 andrai鈥).


Act II
The countess laments that her husband no longer loves her (鈥淧orgi, amor鈥). Encouraged by Figaro and Susanna, she agrees to set a trap for him: they will send Cherubino, disguised as Susanna, to a rendezvous with the count. The page sings a song he has written in honor of the countess (鈥淰oi, che sapete鈥), after which Susanna begins to dress him in girls鈥 clothes (鈥淰enite, inginocchiatevi鈥). When she goes off to find a ribbon, the count knocks and is annoyed to find the door locked. Cherubino hides in the closet. The countess admits her husband, who, when he hears a noise, is skeptical of her story that Susanna is in the closet. Taking his wife with him, he leaves to get tools to force the door. Meanwhile, Susanna, who has reentered unseen and observed everything, helps Cherubino escape through the window before taking his place in the closet. When the count and countess return, both are stunned to find Susanna inside. All seems well until the gardener Antonio appears, complaining that someone has jumped from the window, ruining his flowers. Figaro, who has rushed in to announce that everything is ready for the wedding, pretends that it was he who jumped. When Bartolo, Marcellina, and Basilio appear, waving a court summons for Figaro, the delighted count declares the wedding postponed.


Act III
Susanna leads the count on with promises of a rendezvous, but he grows doubtful when he overhears her conspiring with Figaro. He vows revenge (鈥淰edr貌, mentr鈥檌o sospiro鈥). The countess recalls her past happiness (鈥淒ove sono鈥). Marcellina wins her case but then, noticing a birthmark on Figaro鈥檚 arm, is astonished to discover that he is her long lost son, fathered by Bartolo. The joyful parents agree to marry as well. Susanna and the countess continue their conspiracy against the count and compose a letter to him confirming the rendezvous with Susanna that evening in the garden (Duet: 鈥淐he soave zeffiretto鈥). Later, during Figaro and Susanna鈥檚 wedding ceremony, the bride slips the letter to the count.


Act IV
In the garden, Barbarina tells Figaro and Marcellina about the planned rendezvous between the count and Susanna. Thinking that his bride is unfaithful, Figaro rages against all women (鈥淎prite un po鈥 quegl鈥檕cchi鈥). He leaves, just missing Susanna and the countess, who are dressed for their masquerade. Alone, Susanna sings a love song (鈥淒eh! vieni, non tardar鈥). Figaro, hidden nearby, thinks she is speaking to the count. Susanna conceals herself in time to see Cherubino declare his love to the disguised countess鈥攗ntil the count chases him away to be alone with 鈥淪usanna.鈥 Soon Figaro understands what is going on and, joining in the fun, makes exaggerated advances towards Susanna in her countess disguise. The count returns, finding Figaro with his wife, or so he thinks. Outraged, he calls everyone to witness his verdict. At that moment, the real countess reveals her identity. Realizing the truth, the count asks for his wife鈥檚 forgiveness. The couples are reunited, and so ends this mad day.

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Dec 2014 17:00