The Marriage of Figaro is based on Beaumarchais’ play La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro, which opened in 1784. The play had caused a sensation. Written at a time of revolution, its subject matter – of servants rising up and outwitting their masters – outraged the aristocracy. This caused the play to be banned in many cities, including Vienna, where Mozart was based at the court of Emperor Joseph II.

In order to get permission from the Emperor to use such a controversial subject for a new opera, Mozart’s librettist Da Ponte had to strip the play of its most provocative messaging, most notably replacing Figaro’s Act IV rant about the nobility with a tirade against the inconstancy of women! (‘It’s happened to you’ / ‘Aprite un po’ quegli occhi’)

The plans were deemed acceptable and Mozart set to work, completing the music in just six weeks. The Vienna premiere, which took place in 1786 with Mozart himself conducting, was a success, but the opera’s popularity sky-rocketed after the Prague premiere a few months later. To this day, Figaro is among the top 10 most frequently performed operas worldwide.

What is the music like?

The Marriage of Figaro is packed full of back-to-back hit tunes, including some of the most famous in all of opera, from Figaro’s ‘Here’s an end to your life as a rover’ (‘Non più andrai’), to Cherubino’s serenade ‘Tell me what love is’ (‘Voi che sapete’). Not only will you be humming the music for days afterwards, but the ensemble writing, where two or more voices sing together, is sublime.

As an opera of the classical period, the arias are connected by ‘recitative’ (sung speech performed with ‘continuo’ such as harpsichord accompanying the singers), where the plot development happens.

There’s also wonderful scene painting in the orchestra — during the fast-paced overture, the strings and bassoons scurry all over the scale to represent the hectic atmosphere of wedding day preparations, and the lilting 6/8 rhythm of Susanna and the Countess’ duet ‘A song to the breezes’ (‘Sull’ aria’) could be the pines swaying gently in the wind. Mozart’s music is sunshine, and makes Figaro the ultimate feel-good opera!