Fri-II. Mozart "The Marriage of Figaro"

A castle in the Andalucian countryside near Seville. A possible setting for Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro

The Marriage of Figaro based on a French play by Beaumarchais, is actually a continuation of the story in the Barber of Seville, even though the Barber was written by Rossini a few decades later. The action occurs many years later. Rosina is now the Countess Almaviva, and the Count himself is a bit of a rogue. He has some designs on a servant girl Suzanna, who is engaged to be married to his trusty servant Figaro, who is now in his employment. The servant Figaro has the least idea that his master the Count has been giving attention to his fiancee. The opening of this opera buffa or comic opera, Suzanna tells him the truth. The enraged Figaro vows to take revenge.

In a bit of a side story in the opera, Count Almaviva has a page boy named Cherubino, who lusts after every female in the palace, including the Countess herself. Cherubino is a bit of a dandy, and when he is discovered in the Countess's chamber, the Count banishes him to do military service. The thought of the dandy Cherubino doing military service is too much for Figaro. He makes fun of Cherubino by singing the famous aria "Non piu andrai" (No more gallivanting for you!) and describes the harsh life of a soldier in the military. This aria is one of the most melodious and celebrated baritone arias. It is this aria that we will use to introduce our famous Baritones.

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