The Marriage of Figaro - Synopsis

• The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro) is set in Count Almaviva's castle in Seville in the late 18th Century.  It is based on Beaumarchais's 1784 play La Folle Journée, ou Le Mariage de Figaro
• In The Marriage of Figaro, Beaumarchais continued their story.  The Count has married Rosina but their marriage has gone sour because of his philandering.  Figaro is now the Count's major-domo and is engaged to Susanna, who is Countess Rosina's chambermaid. Susanna is also the Count's intended conquest.  Much will happen on a single "folle journée" - a crazy day.

• Figaro is excited about his nuptial bed and Susanna, his fiancée, tries on her bridal hat.  But she doesn’t like their new bed room because it is too close to the Count’s bedroom suite.  Dr. Bartolo enters with his house keeper, Marcellina.  Marcellina claims that Figaro has once promised to marry her.  Dr. Bartolo swears he is going to make it happen because it would be the perfect revenge on Figaro, who blocked his marriage to Rosina (Countess).
  
  
• Count arrives to beg Susanna for a tryst before he goes to London with Figaro on diplomatic business.  Upon the arrival of Don Basilio, the Count heads for the same chair where Cherubino is hiding.  Basilio gossips about Cherubino and the Countess.  In the end the Count accuses Susanna of dallying with Cherubino.
  
  
• But their argument is interrupted by the arrival of Figaro and a group of peasants.  Figaro invites the Count to place the bridal veil on Susanna as a symbol of his blessing on their marriage.  The Count is forced to agree, but privately vows to help Marcellina marry Figaro instead.

Act 2

• The Countess bemoans the Count's infidelity. Susanna has told her about the Count's plans to seduce her.  Figaro knows that the Count is plotting to help Marcellina. Figaro plans to send the Count an anonymous note about the Countess's “lover.“  Things went wrong when the Count knocked on the Countess’s room while she was dressing Cherubino as Susanna.  Then in panic, Cherubino jumps out the window.
  
• Later the Countess finally admits that Cherubino was in the closet, claiming that it was just a joke.  He doesn't believe her and threatens to kill Cherubino.  Drawing his sword, he flings the closet door open and finds Susanna.  The Count then begs for his wife’s forgiveness.  Figaro, then arrives to announce that the wedding is about to begin.  Questioned by the Count, he denies writing the anonymous note, to the consternation of Susanna and the Countess.
  
• Antonio the gardener barges in, complaining that someone jumped from the Countess's balcony onto his flower patch.  Figaro claims that he himself leapt from the balcony.  But Antonio claims he saw a boy.  The Count immediately realizes that it was Cherubino.  Figaro, sticking to his story, argues that Cherubino was on his way to Seville.  Figaro, confounded, throws the gardener out.  Marcellina, Bartolo, and Basilio now arrive to demand justice.  The Count agrees to judge the case, to the joy of Marcellina and the consternation of Figaro.
  
  

Act 3

• The Countess tells Susanna to go on with the plan but instead she will impersonate Susanna. In the meantime Susanna overhears the Count talking to himself about Figaro marrying Marcellina. Susanna then was force to make a pact with the Count. On the way out she runs into Figaro, she tells him that they have won the case, not knowing that the Count was listening.
  
  
• The judge Don Curzio arrives with Marcellina and Bartolo. The judge announces that Figaro must marry Marcellina or repay the debt. Figaro says that he is of noble birth and cannot marry without relatives’ consent. When the Count asks who they are, Figaro replies that he was stolen as an infant, and shows his birth mark as proof of his noble birth right. Surprisingly, Figaro was the lost love-child of Marcellina and Bartolo. Marcellina then clears all Figaro’s debts and gives dowry to Susanna and Figaro’s marriage. Then, the four of them chuckle at the Count’s frustration and goes off to plan a double wedding.
  
  
• The Countess and Susanna going on with their plan sends off a note with a pin telling the Count to meet Susanna in the garden, and he should send the pin back as an agreement to the meeting.

Act 4

• Barbarina is very upset, having lost the pin that the Count gave her to give to Susanna. While she is looking for the pin, Figaro arrives with Marcellina and asks Barbarina what she is doing. Figaro, not knowing the whole plot, is very furious.
  
  
• Figaro hides in the garden as Susanna arrives. Cherubino arrives, looking for Barbarina. At the same time, the Countess enters, disguised as Susanna. Cherubino, not realizing who she really is, begins flirting with her. The Count comes in and receives the kiss meant for "Susanna." The Count slaps Cherubino for his impudence. The boy flees. The Count does some flirting of his own with "Susanna", infuriating Figaro further. The Count tries to lure her into the dark pavilion, but, hearing Figaro's voice, tells "Susanna" to go into the pavilion without him, promising to meet her later.
  
  
• The real Susanna arrives, disguised as the Countess. Figaro hears her voice, realizes that she is Susanna. He pretends to court "the Countess." The enraged Count seizes Figaro, calls for weapons. Susanna flees into the pavilion as Bartolo, Basilio, Antonio, and Curzio rush in. The Count demands that his wife come out of the pavilion. In amazement, out pop Cherubino, Barbarina, Marcellina, and Susanna, still dressed as Countess. The real Countess reveals herself. The chastened Count humbly asks her pardon, she grants it, and everyone rejoices.