' The Marriage of Figaro '
Acts 1 and 2 of the Opera by-Mozart from the Sadler's Wells Theatre The action takes place in the neighbourhood of Seville
Act 1, A room in Count Almaviva's palace
Act 2, The Countess's bedroom
Cast in order of appearance
Peasants
The Sadler's Wells Orchestra
Leader, Joseph Shadwick
Conductor, Lawrance Collingwood
Chorus Master, Geoffrey Corbett
Producer, Clive Carey
Count Almaviva is the fickle husband of Rosina. He pursues several pretty girls, among them the Countess's maid, Susanna, who is betrothed to Figaro, the Count's valet. Figaro tries to defeat his master's designs and hasten the wedding, but the Count likes things as they are, and so does the Countess, who knows her husband's little ways. Susanna,
of course, is in her confidence, and so is the young page, Cherubino, who likes to flirt with Susanna but is in love with womankind in general. The Count is trying to make love to Susanna when he discovers Cherubino concealed in an armchair, and in his fury he appoints Cherubino ensign in his regiment and sends him off. Marcellina is a housekeeper, Basilio is a music master, and Bartolo is a physician who is trying to get Marcellina married to Figaro.