“Le nozze di Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart libretto (English)

Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four

ACT ONE

Count Almaviva's Castle near Seville
(A half-furnished room with a large armchair in the
centre. Figaro is measuring the floor. Susanna is
trying on a hat in front of a mirror.)

No. 1: Duettino

FIGARO
Five...ten...twenty...
thirty...thirty-six...forty-three...

SUSANNA
How happy I am now;
you'd think it had been made for me.

FIGARO
Five...

SUSANNA
Look a moment, dearest Figaro.

FIGARO
ten...

SUSANNA
look a moment, dearest Figaro.

FIGARO
twenty...

SUSANNA
look a moment.

FIGARO
thirty...

SUSANNA
look a moment,
look here at my cap!

FIGARO
thirty-six...

SUSANNA
look here at my cap.

FIGARO
forty-three...

SUSANNA
look a moment, etc.

FIGARO
Yes, dear heart, it's better that way.
You'd think it had been made for you.

SUSANNA
Look a moment, etc.

FIGARO
Yes, dear heart, etc.

SUSANNA
How happy I am now, etc.

FIGARO
Yes, dear heart, etc.

SUSANNA, FIGARO
Ah, with our wedding day so near...

SUSANNA
how pleasing to my gentle husband

FIGARO
how pleasing to your gentle husband

SUSANNA, FIGARO
is this charming little cap
which Susanna made herself, etc.

SUSANNA
What are you measuring,
my dearest Figaro?

FIGARO
I'm seeing if that bed
the Count is giving us
will look well here.

SUSANNA
In this room?

FIGARO
Indeed, our generous lord
is giving it to us.

SUSANNA
For my part, you can keep it.

FIGARO
For what reason?

SUSANNA (tapping her forehead)
I have my reasons here.

FIGARO (with a similar gesture)
Why won't you let them
be transferred here too?

SUSANNA
Because I don't want to;
are you my servant or not?

FIGARO
But I don't understand
why you should so dislike
the most convenient room in the castle.

SUSANNA
Because I am Susanna and you are a fool.

FIGARO
Thank you, don't be too complimentary! Tell me,
would we be better off anywhere else?

No. 2: Duettino

FIGARO
If perchance Madame

should call you at night.
ding ding: in two steps
from here you'd be there.
And then when the time comes
that my master wants me,
dong dong: in three bounds
I am ready to serve him.

SUSANNA
Likewise some morning
the dear little Count,
ding ding: may send you
some three miles away,
ding, ding, dong dong: the devil may
send him to my door,
and behold, in three bounds...

FIGARO
Susanna, hush, hush, etc.

SUSANNA
and behold, in three bounds...ding,ding...
Listen!

FIGARO
Quickly!

SUSANNA
If you want to hear the rest,
drop those suspicions that do me such wrong.

FIGARO
I will hear the rest:
dubious suspicions make my spine shiver.

SUSANNA
Well, then; listen and keep quiet.

FIGARO
Speak, what's been happening?

SUSANNA
My lord the Count,
weary of pursuing beauties
from far and near,
wants to try his luck again
within his own castle walls.
But it is not his wife, mind you,
who whets his appetite.

FIGARO
Who is it, then?

SUSANNA
Your own little Susanna.

FIGARO
You?

SUSANNA
The very same; and he is hoping
that to his noble project
my being so close will be very helpful.

FIGARO
Bravo! Tell me more.

SUSANNA
This is his graciousness,
this is how he looks after you and your bride.

FIGARO
Well I never! The double-dealer!

SUSANNA
Wait, the best is yet to come: Don Basilio, my
singing teacher and his factotum,
while giving me lessons
repeats the same theme every day.

FIGARO
Who! Basilio! The scoundrel!

SUSANNA
Did you think
that my dowry was given
for your sake?

FIGARO
I had so flattered myself.

SUSANNA
He bestowed it
in the hope of a few half-hours of dalliance
which feudal right...

FIGARO
What! On his estates
has the Count not abolished all that?

SUSANNA
Maybe, but now he regrets it,

and intends to redeem it with me.

FIGARO
Bravo! I like that!
What a fine nobleman!
Some amusement is required; you've found...
(A bell rings.)

FIGARO
Who rang? The Countess.

SUSANNA
Goodbye, goodbye, my handsome Figaro.

FIGARO
Keep smiling, my treasure!

SUSANNA
And you, keep your wits about you!
(kisses him and leaves)

FIGARO
(alone, pacing furiously about the room)
Bravo, my noble lord! Now I begin
to understand the mystery and see clearly
into the heart of your plans. To London, eh?
you as minister, I as courier, and Susanna
as confidential attachée.
It will never happen; I, Figaro, say so!

No. 3: Cavatina

FIGARO
If you would dance, my pretty Count,
I'll play the tune on my little guitar.
If you will come to my dancing school
I'll gladly teach you the capriole.
I'll know how; but soft,
every dark secret
I'll discover better by pretending.
Sharpening my skill, and using it,
pricking with this one, playing with that one,
all of your schemes I'll turn inside out.
If you would dance, etc.
(He leaves. Bartolo and Marcellina enter, she with a
contract in her hand.)

BARTOLO
And you wait for the very day
fixed for the marriage
to speak to me about this?

MARCELLINA
I haven't yet lost hope,
my dear doctor;
to put an end to wedding plans
even more advanced than this
a mere pretext has often sufficed; and he has,
apart from this contract, other obligations to me -
but enough of that!
Susanna must be frightened and artfully induced
to refuse the Count;
out of revenge,

he will take my part,
and thus Figaro will become my husband.

BARTOLO
(taking the contract from Marcellina)
Good, I'll do all I can.
Be quite frank and tell me everything.
(aside)
I should relish
marrying off my former servant
to the man who once engineered my ward's elopement.

No. 4: Aria

BARTOLO
Revenge, oh, sweet revenge
is a pleasure reserved for the wise,
to forgo shame, outrage
is base and utter meanness.
With astuteness, with cleverness,
with discretion, with judgment,
it's possible...The matter is serious;
but, believe me, it shall be done.
If I have to pore over the law books,
if I have to read all the extracts,
with misunderstandings, with hocus-pocus
he'll find himself in a turmoil.
If I have to pore over, etc.
All Seville knows Bartolo,
the scoundrel Figaro shall be overcome!
(He goes.)

MARCELLINA
All is not lost;
hope still remains.
(Susanna enters carrying a lady's cap, dress and a
length of ribbon.)
But here comes Susanna. I must try out my plan;
I'll pretend not to see her.
(as if to herself, but loudly)
So that matchless pearl
is his chosen bride!

SUSANNA (aside)
She's talking about me.

MARCELLINA
But after all, one would expect
nothing better from Figaro:
"I'argent fait tout".

SUSANNA (aside)
What an evil tongue! Just as well
we know it for what it is.

MARCELLINA
Excellent! What discretion she has!
With those downcast eyes
and air of piety!
And then...

SUSANNA (aside)
I'd better go.

MARCELLINA
What a sweet young bride!

(They both start to leave and arrive at the door together.)

No. 5: Duettino

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
Go on, I'm your servant,
magnificent lady.

SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
I would not presume so much,
sharp-witted dame.

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
No, you go first.

SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
No, no, after you.

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
No, you go first.

SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
No, no, after you.

MARCELLINA, SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
I know my position,
and do not breach good manners, etc.

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
The bride-to-be!...

SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
The lady of honour...

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
The Count's favourite...

SUSANNA
All Spain's beloved...

MARCELLINA
Your merit...

SUSANNA
Your fine dress...

MARCELLINA
Your position...

SUSANNA
Your age...

MARCELLINA
By Bacchus, I might grow rash
if I stay here longer.

SUSANNA
Decrepit old Sibyl,
you make me laugh.

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
Go on, I'm your servant, etc.

SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
I would not presume so much, etc.

MARCELLINA (making a curtsy)
The bride-to-be! etc.

SUSANNA (making a curtsy)
The lady of honour! etc.
(Marcellina goes off in a rage.)

SUSANNA
Off with you, you ancient pedant,
you arrogant blue-stocking!
Just because you've read a couple of books
and bored madame when she was young ...
(She lays the dress over the back of the chair.)

CHERUBINO (entering)
Susannetta, is that you?

SUSANNA
Yes, it's me; what do you want?

CHERUBINO
Ah, my love, what a misfortune!

SUSANNA
Your love? What's happened?

CHERUBINO
The Count, because he found me
alone with Barbarina yesterday,
is sending me away,
and if the dear Countess, my beautiful godmother,
does not plead with him on my behalf,
I must go away, and never see you again,
Susanna mine.

SUSANNA
Never see me again? Dear me!
So you've given up
sighing in secret for the Countess, have you?

CHERUBINO
Ah, she fills me with too great a respect!
Lucky you, who can see her
whenever you want to,
who dress her in the morning,
and undress her at night, who arrange
her pins, her lace.
(sighing)
ah! If I were in your shoes -
What have you got there? Tell me -

SUSANNA (imitating him)
Ah, the pretty ribbon and night-cap
belonging to your beautiful god-mother.

CHERUBINO
Please, give it to me, sister,
give it to me, I beg you.
(Cherubino snatches the ribbon from Susanna's hand.)

SUSANNA
Give me back that ribbon at once!
(Susanna tries to take it from him; he dodges
around the chair.)

CHERUBINO
O dear, o beautiful, o blest ribbon!
You'll have to kill me to get it back!
(He kisses the ribbon over and over again.)

SUSANNA
(starts to chase him then
stops as if tired)
What impudence is this?

CHERUBINO
Come on, don't fuss.
In fair exchange
I wish to present you with this little song of mine.
(He pulls the song out of his pocket.)

SUSANNA
What am I supposed to do with this?

CHERUBINO
Read it to the mistress;
read it yourself;
read it to Barbarina, Marcellina,
to every woman in the castle!

SUSANNA
Poor Cherubino, you must be mad!
No. 6: Aria

CHERUBINO
I no longer know what I am, what I do;
now I'm all fire, now all ice; every
woman changes my temperature, every
woman makes my heart beat faster.
The very mention of love, of delight,

disturbs me, changes my heart, and
speaking of love, forces on me a
desire I cannot restrain!
I no longer know what I am, etc.
I speak of love while I'm awake,
I speak of love while I'm sleeping,
to rivers, to shadows, to mountains,
to flowers, to grass, to fountains,
to echoes, to air, to winds,
until they carry away
the sound of my useless words.
I speak of love while I'm awake, etc.
And if no one is near to hear me
I speak of love to myself.
(Seeing the Count in the distance, Cherubino hides
behind the chair.)

COUNT
Quick, saddle me a horse!

CHERUBINO
I'm done for!

SUSANNA
I'm afraid ...

COUNT
To the hunt!

SUSANNA
The Count!
(She tries to conceal Cherubino.)
Poor me!

COUNT (entering)
Susanna, you seem to be
agitated and confused.

SUSANNA
My lord, I beg your pardon,
but...indeed...the surprise...
I implore you, please go.

COUNT
One moment, then I'll leave.
Listen.
(sits down on the chair and takes Susanna's hand;
she draws it forcibly away)

SUSANNA
I don't want to hear anything.

COUNT
Just a couple of words: you know
that the king
has named me the ambassador to London;
I had intended to take Figaro with me.

SUSANNA
My lord, if I may dare -

COUNT (rising)
Speak, speak, my dear, and with that right
you have of me today, as long as you live
(tries to take her hand again)
you may ask, demand, prescribe.

SUSANNA
Let me go, my lord, I have no rights,

I do not want them, not claim them.
Oh, what miser y!

COUNT
Ah no, Susanna, I want to make you happy!
You well know how much I love you;
Basilio has told you that already. Now listen,
if you would meet me briefly
in the garden at dusk,
ah, for this favour I would pay...

BASILIO (outside the door)
He went out just now.

COUNT
Whose voice is that?

SUSANNA
Oh, heavens!

COUNT
Go, and let no one come in.

SUSANNA
And leave you here alone?

BASILIO (outside)
He'll be with my lady, I'll go and find him.

COUNT (points to the chair)
I'll get behind here.

SUSANNA
No, don't hide.

COUNT
Hush, and try to make him go.
(The Count is about to hide behind the chair:
Susanna steps between him and the page. The
Count pushes her gently away. She draws back;
meanwhile the page slips round to the front of the
chair and hops in with his feet drawn up.Susanna
rearranges the dress to cover him.)

SUSANNA
Oh dear! What are you doing?

BASILIO (entering)
Susanna! Heaven bless you!
Have you seen his lordship by any chance?

SUSANNA
And what should his lordship be doing here with me?
Come now, be gone!

BASILIO
But listen,
Figaro is looking for him.

SUSANNA (aside)
Oh dear!
(aloud)
Then he's looking for the one man
who, after yourself, hates him most!

COUNT (aside)
Now we'll see how he serves me.

BASILIO
I have never heard it preached
that he who loves the wife should hate the husband.
The Count loves you.

SUSANNA
Get out, vile minister of others' lechery!
I have no need
of your preaching,
nor of the Count or his lovemaking!

BASILIO
No offence meant.
Everyone to their own taste. I thought you
would have preferred as your lover,
as all other women would,
a lord who's liberal, prudent and wise,
to a raw youth, a mere page.

SUSANNA
To Cherubino?

BASILIO
To Cherubino! Love's little cherub,
who early today
was hanging about here
waiting to come in.

SUSANNA
You insinuating watch,
that's a lie.

BASILIO
Do you call it an insinuation to have eyes in one's head?
And that little ditty,
tell me confidentially, as a friend,
and I will tell no one else,
was it written for you or my lady?

SUSANNA
(aside)
Who the devil told him about that?

BASILIO
By the way, my child,
you must teach him better.
At table he gazes at her so often
and so wantonly,
that if the Count noticed it - on that subject,
as you know, he's quite wild -

SUSANNA
You wretch!
Why do you go around
spreading such lies?

BASILIO
I! How unfair! That which I buy I sell,
and to what is common knowledge
I add not a tittle.

COUNT (emerging from his hiding-place)
Indeed! And what is common knowledge?

BASILIO (aside)
How wonderful!

SUSANNA (aside)
Oh heavens!

No. 7: Terzetto

COUNT
What do I hear! Go at once,
and throw the seducer out!

BASILIO
I came here at the wrong moment!
Pardon me, my Lord.

SUSANNA
I'm ruined, unhappy me!
I'm crushed with fright!

COUNT
Go at once, etc.

BASILIO
At the wrong moment, etc.

SUSANNA
I'm ruined, etc.
(She appears to faint.)

COUNT, BASILIO (supporting her)
Ah, the poor dear is fainting!
Oh God, how her heart beats!

BASILIO
Softly, softly, on to this chair.

SUSANNA (recovering and drawing away)
Where am I? What is this?
What insolence, get out of here! etc.

BASILIO
We are here to help you,
and your honour is perfectly safe.

COUNT
We are here to help you;
don't be alarmed, my treasure.

BASILIO
Ah, what I said about the page
was only a suspicion of mine.

SUSANNA
It is a malicious scandal,
don't believe the impostor, etc.

COUNT
No, the young reprobate must go! etc.

SUSANNA, BASILIO
Poor boy! etc.

COUNT
Poor boy! Poor boy!
But I've caught him again!

SUSANNA
How's that?

BASILIO
What!

SUSANNA
What?

BASILIO
How's that?

SUSANNA, BASILIO
How's that? What?

COUNT
Yesterday I found
your cousin's door was locked;
I knocked and Barbarina opened
much more sheepishly than usual.
Suspicious at her manner
I went searching in every corner,
and raising up the table covering
as gently as you please,
I found the page!
(He shows them what he means and lifting the
dressing-gown on the chair discovers Cherubino.)
Ah, what's this I see?

SUSANNA
Ah, cruel fortune!

BASILIO
Ah, better yet!

COUNT
Most virtuous lady,
now I understand your ways!

SUSANNA
It couldn't have turned out worse;
ye just gods, what next!

BASILIO
All pretty women are the same,
there's nothing new in this case!

COUNT
Basilio,
go and find Figaro at once;
I want him to see -
(points to Cherubino, who stays where he is)

SUSANNA
And I want him to hear; go.

COUNT (to Basilio)
Wait.
(to Susanna, aside)
What brazenness! What excuse
is there when your guilt is so obvious?

SUSANNA
An innocent person needs no excuse.

COUNT
But how long has he been here?

SUSANNA
He was with me
when you arrived, he was asking me
to ask my lady
to intercede for him! Your arrival
threw him into a panic
so he hid.

COUNT
But I sat there myself
when I came into the room.

CHERUBINO
I was round the back then.

COUNT
And when I went round the back?

CHERUBINO
I slipped quietly to the front and hid here.

COUNT (to Susanna)
My God! Then he heard everything
I was saying to you!

CHERUBINO
I tried as hard as I could not to hear!

COUNT
Oh, villainy!

BASILIO
Be careful, someone's coming.

COUNT (to Cherubino)
And you stay here, you little reptile.

(He pulls him out of the chair.)
(Figaro enters, carrying a white veil, followed by
peasants, the girls dressed in white, and strewing
flowers out of little baskets before the Count.)

No. 8: Chorus
CHORUS
Carefree girls, scatter flowers
before this noble master of ours.
His great heart preserves there,
the spotless purity of a more lovely flower.

COUNT (surprised, to Figaro)
What's all this nonsense?

FIGARO (aside, to Susanna)
The ball is rolling.
Back me up, my love.

SUSANNA (aside, to Figaro)
It's hopeless.

FIGARO (to the Count)
My lord, do not disdain
this tribute of our affection,
well-deserved now that you have abolished a right
so hated by all true lovers.

COUNT
That right is no more; what do you want now?

FIGARO
We are the first to benefit
from your wisdom: our marriage
is already arranged, now it remains for you
to bestow upon this woman,
chaste by your gift,
this white veil, symbol of purity.

COUNT (aside)
What devilish cunning!
But I must keep up the pretence.
(aloud)
I am grateful, my friends,
for your honourable feelings.
But I do not deser ve
tributes and praise;
by abolishing from my estates
an unjust right, I but restore
to duty and nature their own.

ALL
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

SUSANNA
What a virtuous man!

FIGARO
What a just man!

COUNT (to Figaro and Susanna)
I promise to perform the ceremony,
I ask but a brief respite,
so that in the presence of my loyal people,
and with due pomp and splendour

I may make you completely happy.
(aside)
We must find Marcellina.
(aloud)
Go, my friends.

CHORUS (scattering the rest of the flowers)
Carefree girls, scatter flowers
before this noble master of ours.
His great heart preserves there,
the spotless purity of a more lovely flower.
(they leave)

FIGARO
Hurray!

SUSANNA
Hurray!

BASILIO
Hurray!

FIGARO (to Cherubino)
And you're not going to cheer?

SUSANNA
He's upset, poor lad,
because the master's turning him out of the
castle.

FIGARO
Ah! On such a special day!

Susanna
A wedding-day!

FIGARO (to the Count)
When everyone is praising you!

CHERUBINO (kneeling)
Forgive me, my lord!

COUNT
You don't deserve it.

SUSANNA
He's still only a child.

COUNT
Less of a child than you think.

CHERUBINO
I know, I was in the wrong; but from my lips -

COUNT (raising him)
Very well, very well, I forgive you;
I will go even further: I have a post free
in my regiment for an officer; I elect you to fill it.
Leave at once. Farewell.
(He starts to leave. Susanna and Figaro stop him.)

SUSANNA, FIGARO
Just until tomorrow -

COUNT
No, he must leave at once.

CHERUBINO
To obey you, my lord, I am ready.

COUNT
Come, for the last time
give Susanna a kiss.
(aside)
This blow is unexpected.
(The Count and Basilio leave.)
(Cherubino embraces Susanna, who is still confused.)

FIGARO (to Cherubino)
Hey, captain, give me your hand.
(softly)
I must speak to you
before you go.
(aloud)
Farewell little Cherubino!
How your destiny has changed all at once!

No. 9: Aria

FIGARO (to Cherubino)
No more will you, amorous butterfly,
flit around the castle night and day,
upsetting all the pretty girls,
love's little Narcissus and Adonis, etc.
No more will you have those fine plumes,
that soft and stylish hat,

those fine locks, that striking air,
those rosy, girl-like cheeks.
No more will you, etc.
Among warriors swearing by Bacchus!
Great mustacchios, holding your pack,
a gun on your shoulder, a sabre at your side,
head held high, frank of feature,
wearing a great helmet or a turban,
winning honours, but little money,
and in place of the fandango
a march through the mud.
Over mountains, over valleys,
through the snow and burning sun.
To the music of trumpets,
of shells and cannons,
with balls sounding thunder,
making your ears ring.
Cherubino, on to victory,
on to victory in war!

(They leave, marching like soldiers.)

Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four