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The Marriage of Figaro Who's Who

Join us for fun and games at a house in the country where two people are preparing to tie the knot on their wedding day.

In Louisa Muller’s new production of The Marriage of Figaro. the scene is set in a modern rural pile which has become more of a liability than an asset: think wellies, tweeds and a penchant for horse-riding. Here we meet some of the key characters who navigate the twists, turns – and wrecked hydrangeas – of Mozart’s comic opera.

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Meet Figaro

The only character to get a name check in the title of the opera is Figaro, the Count’s estate manager and would-be husband of Susanna.

Quick-witted, enterprising and very much at home in a pair of wellies, he’s the man in charge of keeping everything running as smoothly as possible on the estate. While technically an employee, he’s acutely aware that the social division between himself and the Count is crumbling as society changes and the upstairs-downstairs divide becomes a thing of the past.

While Figaro might be good at finding solutions to most of the problems that crop up, he’s still managed to get himself into a tricky situation which he needs to sort out before he can marry the love of his life …

Listen to Figaro’s Act I aria ‘Non più andrai‘

Liam James Karai as Figaro in rehearsal for The Marriage of Figaro. Photography by Tom Arber

Meet Susanna

Figaro’s fiancée and the Countess’s lady-in-waiting and companion Susanna is resourceful, witty and charming – in fact, all the things you’d look for when hiring someone to assist you or hope to find in a friend.

Smart and self-aware, Susanna’s nobody’s fool and is certainly not going to put up with any trouble from the Count or allow him to create waves on the biggest day of her life (the lead-up to this is when we meet her and everyone else in the household).

Her clear-sightedness means that it’s her more than anyone else who orchestrates everything that takes place over the course of the day.

Listen to Susanna’s Act IV aria ‘Deh, vieni non tardar‘

Hera Hyesang Park as Susanna in rehearsal for The Marriage of Figaro

Meet Count Almaviva

The tweed-toting Count Almaviva is a man of privilege and a nightmare boss to boot.

As Count, he’s very aware of his position as Master of the House, but less cognisant of the fact that times are changing and people don’t automatically kowtow to him in quite the same way as previously.

Arrogant and entitled, he’s bored with the settled aspect his life has taken since getting married and has developed a roving eye much to the Countess’s despair – and Figaro’s when he realises his employer’s glance has alighted upon his wife-to-be.

Listen to the Count’s Act III aria ‘Hai già vinta la causa!‘

James Newby as Count Almaviva in rehearsals for Opera North's The Marriage of Figaro. Photography by Tom Arber

Meet Countess Almaviva

Countess Almaviva has a lot to put up with, not least the fact that her husband is hoping to sleep with her lady-in-waiting, Susanna, by taking advantage of an age-old feudal right that permits him to do exactly that.

The loyal Countess is no doormat however and, with the help of those around her, is perfectly able to outsmart the Count and ensure his scheming comes to nothing.

Big-hearted, her love is such that she can forgive him his indiscretions – a character trait which also makes her an excellent employer.

Listen to the Countess’s Act III aria ‘Dove sono‘

The score of The Marriage of Figaro in the rehearsal room. Photography by Tom Arber

Meet Cherubino

The Countess’ teenage godson, Cherubino is at once reckless, impressionable and an unrepentant flirt.

There’s something lovable about his misdemeanours however, perhaps because of his youth and inherently good nature. That’s why everyone is happy to help him escape from the Count after he accidentally incurs his wrath.

The part of Cherubino is actually a ‘trouser role’ which means it’s sung by a woman dressed as a man – who then, in another twist, takes on the disguise of being a girl in the Count’s household to avoid being sent away to the army.

Listen to Cherubino’s Act II aria ‘Voi che sapete‘ 

Hongni Wu as Cherubino and James Newby as Count Almaviva in rehearsal. Photography by Tom Arber

Meet the Relatives

The Marriage of Figaro is based on a play by Beaumarchais, in which everyone is related to someone else.

Antonio is the Gardener, but he is also Susanna’s uncle. What that means is that Barbarina, his daughter and also Cherubino’s flame, is her cousin. Doctor Bartolo was previously the Countess’s guardian and, together with Marcellina, his housekeeper, has another surprise relative, something only revealed later in the opera.

Susanna’s music teacher, Don Basilio, is the Countess’s tutor in the prequel The Barber of Seville. He also loves meddling in everyone else’s affairs so could be said to have a connection to everybody!

James Newby as Count Almaviva, Daniel Norman as Don Basilio and Liam James Karai as Figaro in rehearsal. Photography by Tom Arber

You're invited ...

… to Figaro and Susanna’s wedding where all these characters will be in attendance. Opening in Leeds on Friday 30 January 2026, the production also tours to Nottingham, Salford, Newcastle and Hull.

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