Act I: A small empty room

Figaro, valet to Count Almaviva, is measuring the space he and Susanna, his betrothed, have been given to live in after they are wed. The space is conveniently located between the Count and Countess’ two apartments. Susanna, who is the Countess’ maid, explains that it is “too” convenient, as the Count has designs on her. He is planning to take advantage of his feudal rights (the right of a master to bed a maid in his service before she is married to another servant). Figaro vows he will find a way to outwit his master, the Count.

Dr. Bartolo and his housekeeper, Marcellina, enter, discussing how to make Figaro accountable for a contract he has signed. Needing money, Figaro had borrowed from Marcellina and agreed either to pay her back or marry her. The two plot to turn the Count against Susanna so that he will support Marcellina’s claim on Figaro.

The pageboy Cherubino loves every female he sees, from Barbarina, the gardener’s daughter, to the Countess herself. The Count has dismissed him from service and Cherubino begs Susanna’s help. When the Count enters, the page hides. When Basilio, the music master, arrives, the Count hides, while Basilio tells about Cherubino’s attention to the Countess. The Count angrily reveals himself, discovers Cherubino and banishes him to join his regiment.

Act II: The Countess’ boudoir

Figaro, Susanna and the Countess hatch a scheme to teach the Count a lesson. Cherubino will be disguised as Susanna for a rendezvous with the Count. The Count, having received an anonymous letter (from Marcellina and Bartolo) enters angrily, and Cherubino hides in the closet. Hearing a noise from the closet, the Count demands it be opened. When he is unable to open the locked door he takes his wife with him to find tools to force the door open. Susanna pops into the closet as Cherubino jumps out the window. When the Count and Countess return they are surprised to see Susanna emerge from the closet. All seems well until the tipsy gardener Antonio appears, complaining that someone has jumped from the Countess’ window and broken some flowerpots. Figaro takes the blame and, with adroit prompting from the Countess and Susanna, eases out of another tight situation.

Intermission

Act III: A reception hall in the palace

The Countess and Susanna have plotted that Susanna will meet the Count in the garden that night, but the Countess will be there disguised in Susanna’s clothing. Figaro is brought to trial on Marcellina’s charge, but by means of a birthmark it is proven that he is actually the son of Bartolo and Marcellina. The Countess laments about her lost days of happiness with the Count, when they were first wed. She and Susanna then compose a letter to the Count. Susanna furtively gives the letter to the Count. He ceremoniously invites everyone to the wedding festivities at nightfall.

Act IV: The garden

The garden is dark, and people in disguise are carrying lanterns. Susanna and the Countess lead a comedy of mistaken identities through every conceivable combination of confused circumstances. At the climax the Count calls upon everyone to witness the unfaithfulness of his wife. He ignores all pleas that he forgive her. Then the real Countess appears without her disguise, to the chastened surprise of the Count. Figaro and Susanna are happily reunited and the Count implores his wife’s forgiveness for his jealousy and is pardoned. All rejoice!