Mozart's
"The Marriage of Figaro"

A condensed version in 4 scenes
by Dr. Derek Anthony

When the curtain goes up, we see the beautiful Countess Rosina. [Aria:] She is terribly unhappy because, her husband is chasing after most of the other women living in their castle.

[Dialogue:] A little later Figaro and Susanna enter,
but Figaro is so exited about his upcoming wedding night with Susanna, that he doesn't realize that the Count also has plans with her! Susanna finally makes him understand the real reason for the Count's generosity. Naturally, that makes Figaro furious. [Recitative & Aria].

[Dialogue:] Meanwhile, the teenager Cherubino has discovered his interest in women and does quite know what to do about his burning and uncontrollable passion. He rushes in to ask the Countess and Susanna for advice. [Aria]

But before he can get any of the advice from the ladies, their little scene is interrupted by the voice of the Count who is approaching from outside the room. [Dialogue:] Cherubino, unable to get away, hides quickly. The Count enters, determined to seduce Susanna.

[Duet]. Fortunately, for Susanna, the Count's passionate advances are interrupted by Figaro.

Now Figaro enters in search of Cherubino. The mention of Cherubino, prompts the Count to tell about how he discovered Cherubino together with one of the pretty, young maids underneath a table in the kitchen the day before! [Music]

Demonstrating how he lifted up the table cloth and found Cherubino there, he picks up the cloth under which Cherubino is hiding. And, once again, Cherubino finds himself in a very 'bad moment'!

But this time Cherubino has also been listening to all of the Count's compromising suggestions, creating a very embarrassing moment for the Count as well! [Duet]

[Dialogue:]To solve this problem, the Count, quickly decides to send Cherubino off to the army to get rid of him. Figaro is all to happy to prepare the troublesome Cherubino for the 'joys' of army life. [Aria]

In the meantime Susanna and the Countess are making plans for catching the Count 'red-handed' with another woman. They compose a message inviting him to a secret meeting in the Palace Gardens at night. [Duet]

At night the game of deception begins. [Dialogue & Aria:] The Countess is dressed as

Susanna and pretends to have her voice as well. Being quite dark, this confuses everybody, not only Figaro, but also Cherubino and the Count, who both in turn try to seduce her. That's right, the Count actually tries to seduce the fake Susanna - in reality his own wife! [Quartet].

Eventually the truth comes out, and the Count realizes that he has been put on the spot in a most embarrassing way.

All he can do is to beg the Countess for her forgiveness - which she gives, and it all ends happily for everybody! [Finale]