Act 1

The house and gardens of Count Almaviva, some distance from Seville

Figaro and Susanna are getting ready for their wedding. Susanna warns Figaro that the room the Count has allocated them will make it easier for the Count to approach her. Although the Count has renounced his 'Droit de Seigneur', (the right of a feudal lord to the virginity of any bride within his domain) he wants to revive it secretly in Susanna's case. The Countess rings for Susanna. Figaro is angry at the Count's plan to take them with him to London. He promises to teach the Count a lesson.

Marcellina and Dr Bartolo discuss Marcellina's marriage 'contract' with Figaro, an old IOU for a loan of money, in default of which Figaro promised marriage. Bartolo is delighted to take revenge on Figaro by saddling him with Marcellina, since it was Figaro who prevented him from marrying Rosina, now the Countess. Marcellina lets Susanna know that the Count's interest in her is public knowledge - she hopes that this will cause Susanna to anger the Count by denying him, thus making him support Marcellina's marital claims on Figaro as a revenge against Susanna.

Cherubino tells Susanna how the Count caught him alone with Barbarina, and is now sending him away. He is also upset that he will not see the Countess again. He manages to grab one of the Countess's ribbons, and in exchange gives Susanna a song he has written. The Count interrupts them, and Cherubino hides behind the armchair. The Count tells Susanna he loves her, but he too is interrupted, this time by Basilio, and ducks behind the armchair, Cherubino hiding under the dress in the chair. Basilio tells Susanna she'd be better off with the Count than with Cherubino, who is also chasing her. The Count comes out of hiding, and tells Basilio to find Cherubino. But it is the Count himself who finds him under the dress. Cherubino has heard everything.

Figaro has organised a crowd to sing the Count's praises for renouncing the droit de seigneur. He is trying to force the Count's hand by publicly celebrating it and creating an impromptu and early wedding. The Count knows of Marcellina's contract, and stalls. Susanna begs the Count to pardon Cherubino, but the Count sends him off to join the army. Figaro wishes him well.

Please see next page for Act 2