Synopsis

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

Act 1

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.

Act 2

The Countess prays for her husband's love. When Susanna tells her that the Count has tried to seduce her, they scheme with Figaro how to make the Count stay faithful. Figaro has sent the Count an 'anonymous' note to warn him that the Countess is planning an assignation. This will distract the Count by sending him into his own orbit of jealousy. Susanna warns that Marcellina could still prevent the wedding. Figaro suggests they send Cherubino, dressed as a girl, to meet the Count in the garden instead of Susanna. The Countess will then catch him in mid-seduction, and have him at her mercy.

Susanna and the Countess begin to feminise Cherubino, and notice that his commission has no seal. The Countess finds the stolen ribbon, decides to keep it, and sends Susanna for a replacement. Cherubino and the Countess almost kiss.

The Count tries to enter the room, but the door is locked. Cherubino hides in the closet. The Countess opens the door, and the Count confronts her with Figaro's anonymous note arranging an assignation. Cherubino knocks something in the closet, and the Count suspects that this is the Countess's lover in hiding. The Countess says it is Susanna. When the Countess refuses to unlock the closet door, the Count takes her to fetch tools to force it open. Susanna lets Cherubino out of the closet. He jumps out of the window and runs away.

With the Count about to force the door, Countess admits that the person hiding is not Susanna, but Cherubino. The Count opens the door, but it is Susanna who emerges. The Countess confronts the Count with his unjust suspicions, and he begs forgiveness. She explains that the note from Figaro was sent to test him. The Count prevents Figaro from leading them off to the wedding, and asks him to explain the note. He denies knowing anything about it, but the Countess and Susanna tell him they have explained everything. The Count wishes Marcellina would hurry up and put a stop to the wedding. Antonio says he saw a man jump out of the Countess's window. Figaro says that he was the one who jumped, and that he has twisted his ankle. Antonio has found Cherubino's commission, and the women prompt Figaro to explain that it needed the Count's seal. Marcellina demands that Figaro marries her in repayment of the loan. The Count promises to give his judgement.

Act 3

The Count is bamboozled by the events of the day, and begins to doubt the Countess's fidelity. He vows that Figaro will marry Marcellina. The Countess persuades Susanna to convince the Count of her secret desire for him, and to arrange to meet him in the garden, where the Countess herself, dressed as Susanna, will consummate the plan. Fooled by Susanna, the Count overhears her tell Figaro that he is now sure of winning his case against Marcellina. The Count rages at the thought that Figaro will get what he wants, and he himself will go without.

Barbarina and Cherubino (to be disguised as a girl) plan to join the other girls in bringing flowers to the Countess. The Countess grieves at her humiliation at having to beg for a servant's favour to save her marriage. She remembers how Almaviva used to love her, and hopes to regain his love.

Don Curzio announces the Count's decision: Figaro must marry Marcellina or pay her. Figaro says that he cannot marry without his parents' consent, and that does not know who they are. Marcellina recognises him as her own son Raffaelo, kidnapped in childhood. Bartolo is his father. Susanna catches Figaro embracing Marcellina, but soon learns the good news. The two couples will celebrate a double wedding.

Antonio tells the Count that Cherubino is still around the castle, now dressed as a girl.

The Countess dictates a note for Susanna to send the Count. Susanna seals the note with a pin. The girls present their flowers. Antonio and the Count catch Cherubino, and are about to punish him when Barbarina interrupts them. During the wedding, Susanna slips the note to the Count, who pricks his finger on the pin.

Act 4

Figaro finds Barbarina searching for the pin the Count has given her to take back to Susanna. He suspects that they are planning a rendezvous. Figaro tells Marcellina that he is ruined: Susanna is unfaithful. Marcellina tells him to be patient, and plans to warn Susanna.

In the garden, Barbarina has arranged to meet Cherubino in secret. Figaro brings Bartolo, Antonio and Basilio to witness Susanna's seduction by the Count. Figaro gives a warning not to trust women. Susanna and the Countess dress as one another.  The Count courts the Countess, thinking she is Susanna, and leads her towards the arbour. Figaro interrupts them, and they separate and hide. Figaro pretends to court the disguised Susanna, and gets slapped for doubting her. The Count accuses them of treachery, and calls everybody together. They all beg the Count to forgive the woman he thinks is his wife, but he refuses until the Countess herself appears. It is now the Count's turn to beg for forgiveness.