The Marriage of Figaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Marriage of Figaro |
|
|---|---|
| by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | |
Portrait by Doris Stock, 1789
|
|
| Genre | Opera buffa in 4 acts |
| Native title | Le nozze di Figaro |
| Librettist | Lorenzo Da Ponte |
| Language | Italian |
| Based on | The Marriage of Figaro by Pierre Beaumarchais |
| Premiere | Burgtheater Vienna 1 May 1786 |
Le nozze di Figaro (which means The Marriage of Figaro) is a very famous and funny opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. An opera is like a play where most of the words are sung. The story, called the libretto, was written in Italian by Lorenzo Da Ponte.
This opera first opened in Vienna, Austria, on May 1, 1786. People loved it so much that they asked for almost every song to be sung again! This made the show very long, and the Emperor even asked for the encores to stop.
The story of The Marriage of Figaro comes from a French play written in 1784 by Pierre Beaumarchais. This play had some ideas that were considered a bit daring at the time. However, the opera's story was carefully changed by Da Ponte so that it would be approved by the people who checked for anything inappropriate in Vienna.
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in The Marriage of Figaro:
- Count Almaviva: A powerful nobleman.
- Countess Almaviva: The Count's wife, a kind lady.
- Figaro: The Count's clever servant, who is engaged to Susanna.
- Susanna: The Countess's maid, who is engaged to Figaro.
- Cherubino: A young page boy who works for the Count.
Images for kids
-
Act 1: Cherubino hides behind Susanna's chair as the Count arrives.
-
The original libretto from 1786.
See also
In Spanish: Las bodas de Fígaro para niños
