Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 4 - Figaro

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 20 ACT I A sparsely furnished room. It is the wedding day of Figaro, Count Almaviva’s valet, and Susanna, the Countess’s maid. Figaro’s satisfaction with their future quarters turns to apprehension upon hearing from Susanna that the Count has offered them the apartment next to his own, making it easier to press his unwelcome attentions on Susanna (Duettino: Se a caso madama ). If the Count wants to dance, he, Figaro, will call the tune (Cavatina: Se vuol ballare ). Marcellina and Bartolo plot to prevent Figaro’s marriage. Eager to marry Figaro herself, Marcellina hopes to enforce the terms of an unpaid loan she had made to him. Bartolo joins her cause, longing to avenge himself for Figaro’s past offenses (Aria: La vendetta ). Susanna and Marcellina exchange insults (Duettino: Via resti servita ). Cherubino, the Count’s page, is miserable because the Count dismissed him after catching him in a tête-à-tête with Barbarina, the gardener’s daughter. He confesses to Susanna that he trembles at the sight of any woman (Aria: Non so più cosa son ). When the Count approaches, Cherubino hides and overhears him wooing Susanna. Upon hearing Basilio approach, the Count also hides. Basilio has been acting on the Count’s behalf in his pursuit of Susanna. When Basilio hints that Cherubino is pursuing the Countess, the Count emerges from hiding and demands that the page be dismissed (Trio: Cosa sento? ). As he tells how he caught Cherubino hiding at Barbarina’s house, the Count inadvertently uncovers him from yet another hiding place. Immediate reprisals are avoided by Figaro’s appearance with a group of peasants (Chorus: Giovani liete ). To save face, the Count awards Cherubino a commission in his own regiment. Figaro sings the praises of military life encouraging the dejected Cherubino (Aria: Non più andrai ). ACT II The Countess’s boudoir. The Countess laments the loss of her husband’s love (Cavatina: Porgi amor ). She and Susanna are discussing the morning’s events when Figaro arrives with a plan: They will confuse the Count by sending him an anonymous letter alleging that the Countess is receiving a lover, but meanwhile Susanna will agree to meet the Count in the garden. Attending in Susanna’s place will be Cherubino, disguised as a girl. The Countess will interrupt the tryst and force the Count to withdraw all opposition to Figaro’s marriage. Cherubino sings a ballad to the Countess and Susanna (Canzonetta: Voi che sapete ). The maid dresses him for his role in the plot (Aria: Venite, inginocchiatevi ). When the Count knocks on the locked door, Cherubino hides The Negaunee Foundation Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation Mary Stowell Randy L. & Melvin R.° Berlin Ethel & Bill° Gofen ° Deceased Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the NIB Foundation Italian Opera Endowed Chair and the support of the Regenstein Foundation Mozart Endowed Chair in Memory of Ruth Regenstein. Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline,American Airlines. Additional costumes provided by Austin Pettinger, Seams Unlimited, Minnesota Opera Costume Shop,The Tailor’s Square, and Uber Costume. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS This production will be performed with one intermission. Acts I & II 1 hour 45 minutes Intermission 30 minutes Acts III & IV 1 hour 15 minutes TOTAL 3 hours 30 minutes LYRIC’S 2024/25 SEASON IS PRESENTED BY Erika Gross in loving memory of Dietrich Gross Julie & Roger Baskes Synopsis TIME | Late 18th century (sometime after the action of The Barber of Seville ) PLACE | “Aguas Frescas,”Count Almaviva’s castle near Seville PRODUCTION SPONSORS