Act I

Figaro, the valet of Count Almaviva, measures the bedroom that the count has given him for his upcoming married life. Figaro’s fiancée Susanna warns him that the count wants to seduce her and that the location of the room is ideal for this. Figaro vows to let his master fall into his own trap. Two other people try to prevent Figaro’s wedding: Marcellina, Doctor Bartolo’s housekeeper, demands that Figaro marry her because he has not paid off his debts to her; Bartolo himself wants to take revenge on Figaro because he once helped the Count kidnap Bartolo’s ward Rosina – and make her Countess Almaviva. Cherubino, a young page, tells Susanna about his first feelings of love – for women in general and the Countess in particular. When the Count comes to see Susanna, Cherubino manages to hide just in time. The Count also has to hide when the music teacher Basilio appears to question Susanna about Cherubino’s feelings for the Countess. The Count jumps out of his hiding place and accidentally reveals the hidden page. Figaro brings villagers to celebrate the Count – for abolishing the feudal right to sleep with the maid on her wedding night. To get rid of him, the Count sends Cherubino to the army. Figaro mockingly bids farewell to the newly made soldier.

Act II

The Countess reflects on her unhappy marriage. Susanna informs her that the Count intends to seduce Susanna. Figaro proposes a strategy: the Countess is to catch her husband with ‘Susanna’ – who is actually Cherubino dressed as a woman. Cherubino confesses his love to the Countess. When the Count suddenly knocks on the door, Cherubino hides in the wardrobe. The Count is convinced that his wife is hiding a lover. She claims that it is only Susanna trying on her wedding dress. The Count fetches tools to force open the wardrobe door. He takes the Countess with him and locks the door behind him. Susanna frees Cherubino, who flees out of the window; she takes his place. When the couple returns, the Countess confesses the truth to the Count – but to her great surprise, it is Susanna who steps out of the wardrobe. The gardener Antonio complains that someone trampled his flower beds when he jumped out of the window. Figaro takes the blame, but is confronted with the military commission that the page lost when he jumped out of the window. Just as Figaro manages to talk his way out of it, Marcellina appears with Bartolo and Basilio. She demands that Figaro marry her to pay off his debts.

Act III

At the Countess’s insistence, Susanna agrees to meet the Count in the garden that evening in exchange for a dowry with which Figaro can buy his freedom from Marcellina. As he leaves, the Count overhears Susanna telling Figaro that ‘the matter is settled’. The Count realises he has been deceived and orders Figaro to marry Marcellina. Figaro explains that he cannot marry without parental consent. However, he does not know who his parents are, as he was stolen as a baby. Marcellina and Bartolo recognise Figaro as their own son. Susanna discovers Figaro in Marcellina’s arms and is beside herself with rage – until she learns of the surprising turn of events. The Countess dictates a love letter to Susanna, in which Susanna invites the Count to a meeting – this time, the Countess herself wants to take Susanna’s place. They seal the letter with a pin. The Count discovers that Cherubino has not yet left. Barbarina publicly confronts the Count about his inappropriate behaviour. Susanna slips the letter to the Count, who pricks himself on the pin. Figaro secretly watches the exchange.

Act IV

Barbarina has lost the pin that the count asked her to return to Susanna as a sign of his consent to meet her. Barbarina tells Figaro where the meeting is taking place. Marcellina, who is now on Figaro’s side, does not believe that Susanna is cheating on him. Figaro swears to take revenge on behalf of all betrayed husbands. A ‘comedy of errors’ unfolds in the darkness of the garden. In the end, the Count believes he has caught his wife in flagrante delicto. But no matter who he discovers, the Countess proves to be innocent. The Count begs for forgiveness, which the Countess generously grants him. Everyone celebrates in the name of love and prepares for the wedding feast.