_The Marriage of Figaro_ is a classic opera that’s both funny and romantic,
with a plot that’s easy to follow. Mozart’s music is incredibly beautiful and
memorable, and the characters are both charming and relatable.
Here’s everything you need to know about ENO’s contemporary staging of _[The
Marriage of Figaro](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-marriage-of-figaro/)_.
## It’s an opera by Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…
Composed just five-and-a-half years before his untimely death, _The Marriage
of Figaro_(in Italian _Le Nozze di Figaro_)__ premiered at the height of
Mozart’s 35-year career. [Mozart](https://www.eno.org/composers/wolfgang-
amadeus-mozart/) based the opera on the highly controversial play, _La folle
journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro_ by Pierre Beaumarchais, which had been
allowed its first public appearance only two years earlier.
For this opera, Mozart enlisted the help of librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte. He
also worked with Da Ponte on other well-known operas,_[Don
Giovanni](https://www.eno.org/operas/don-giovanni/) _and [Cosi fan
tutte](https://www.eno.org/operas/cosi-fan-tutte/).
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/jERh-0d86Ws?feature=oembed)
Video
The opera itself shares characters with its prequel, Rossini’s[ _The Barber of
Seville_](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-barber-of-seville/) (written 30 years
later). Surprisingly, at the time of its Viennese premiere in 1786, _The
Marriage of Figaro_ , was only moderately successful. Although, by the third
performance the encores had almost doubled its performance time.
The somewhat complex story follows the schemes of Figaro and his master, the
Count, on Figaro’s wedding day. A tale of love and deception, Figaro and his
wife Susanna plot against the count and his adultering ways, so that everyone
can live happily ever after!
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/-RiR2JCtmy4?feature=oembed)
Video
## You’ve probably heard it before…
As with any opera by Mozart,_The Marriage of Figaro_ is bursting with
recognisable music. You’re probably familiar with Cherbuino’s Aria ‘Tell me
what love is’ (‘voi che sapete) and the incredibly catchy ‘Here’s an end to
your life as a rover’ as sung by Figaro.
Nevertheless, the most famous piece of music from the opera is the Overture.
Don’t recognise it by name?
You’ll recognise it from this scene in The King’s Speech as Bertie recites
Hamlet’s ‘to be or not to be’ without a single stutter. Or perhaps you
remember Willy Wonka opening the doors to the chocolate factory by playing a
short snippet from the Overture on his mini keyboard?
[YouTube
Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/hJDrpseUX8I?start=27&feature=oembed)
Video
Remember that scene from the _Shawshank Redemption_? The two ladies are
singing the famous ‘Sull’aria’ from _The Marriage of Figaro._
It’s safe to say the music from _The Marriage of Figaro_ is still very much
alive, some 230 years later.
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bjqmg_7J53s?feature=oembed)
Video
Want to know more about how opera has been featured in famous films you’re
bound to have watched? Check out our [Opera in Film
video](https://www.eno.org/collections/opera-film-works/).
## And another few snippets of information…
* The man who wrote the libretto of _The Marriage of Figaro_ , Lorenzo Da Ponte, lived a rather scandalous life; he was banished from Venice for 15 years for running a brothel, and, at one point, was arrested for debt no less than 30 times in 3 months, resulting in him fleeing to New York (and starting an opera company which was the predecessor of the New York Academy of Music and the Metropolitan Opera).
* The play on which _The Marriage of Figaro_ is based on originally lasted four-and-a-half hours; Da Ponte shortened it to just three hours.
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Photo Gallery
## Watch ENO perform music from The Marriage of Figaro
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Oc9cSnSRQw?feature=oembed)
Video
[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/XmsOMCbaidE?feature=oembed)
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Related Content: Mozart’s Most Famous Music: Where to Start; Related Content: The beginner’s guide to Mozart; Related Content: Beginner’s Guide to the Best and Most Famous Operas of All Time