Figaro Gets a Divorce

Many years have passed since the wedding of Susanna and Figaro, and the reconciliation of the Count and Countess Almaviva. The family is now on the run from revolution. The Count and Countess have a son, Serafin, and the Count has also taken in a ward, Angelika. At a border crossing, the family is detained and interrogated by a security officer who reveals himself to be the Major, an old acquaintance. Instead of deporting them, he escorts the family to a luxurious hotel. There, he keeps the Count occupied at the gambling tables and the Countess at the spa, while encouraging the Count to have Serafin enlist in the army.

Figaro and Susanna quarrel: Susanna longs to finally have a child, while Figaro is preoccupied with uncovering the Major’s true intentions. Figaro decides to leave the household before the Major can get to him. Meanwhile, Serafin and Angelika are in love, but fear the Count will never allow them to marry.

When the Count and Countess run out of money, they are forced to leave the hotel. During the move, the Major ensures that the Count “accidentally” discovers a letter in the Countess’s luggage. The letter reveals three things: the Countess had an affair with Cherubino, the former page; Cherubino—not the Count—is Serafin’s father; and Cherubino has been killed in battle. Figaro observes everything with great interest. Enraged, the Count orders Serafin to join the army at once, despite the Countess’s protests.

Figaro, once a barber, attempts to start anew by opening a salon, but business is slow. Susanna mocks him for abandoning the family and again urges him to have a child with her. When he refuses, she leaves him.

The Major continues his intrigues. He tells Angelika that she is the result of an affair between the Count and Barbarina, a former servant, and therefore she and Serafin—believing themselves to be siblings—can never marry. He adds that the Count has promised Angelika to him instead, to secure her future. After Angelika leaves in despair, Serafin confronts the Major, who repeats the lie that Angelika is his sister and insists he forget her and go to the army. Serafin resigns himself to his fate, though he remains suspicious.

The Major informs Susanna that the family can no longer afford to employ her. The Countess, Angelika, and Susanna share a painful farewell.

Susanna seeks solace in a bar, where the bartender reveals himself to be Cherubino. He explains that he faked his death, fled the war, and started a new life. The Major arrives, collects protection money from Cherubino, and notes with satisfaction that Susanna and Cherubino have finally found each other.

The Major then visits Figaro’s salon for a shave, informing him that Susanna can now be found performing at Cherubino’s bar. Figaro goes there and sees Susanna in a cabaret act with Cherubino. The Count appears and asks Figaro to look after the family, as he is about to be arrested by the Major’s police. Susanna publicly admits she has been unfaithful to Figaro.

Angelika catches up with Serafin as he waits for transport to the front. She tells him that none of the revelations matter—she still loves him.

The Countess confronts the Major. No longer afraid of the truth, she realises that honesty and love are the only weapons against his power and manipulation.

At Cherubino’s bar, Susanna receives Figaro’s petition for divorce. She realises she must return to him and to the Almaviva family, and tries to persuade Cherubino to come with her.

The Count, released from custody and in poor condition, returns. The Countess reveals the truth in an attempt to free them all from the Major’s control: since the Count is not Serafin’s father, Serafin and Angelika are not siblings, and nothing stands in the way of their love. Susanna and Cherubino arrive; Cherubino meets Serafin, his son, for the first time. Figaro disappears but arranges for the others to escape the Major, who is now hunting them.

On a stormy night, the Almaviva family flees toward their beloved castle. Figaro watches for them in the darkness. Just as they cross the border, Cherubino is shot and killed.

The Major disguises himself as a revolutionary and continues the pursuit.

The Almaviva castle has been transformed into a mental asylum. To blend in, the family pretends to be patients, while Figaro and Susanna pose as attendants. Susanna reveals she is pregnant with Cherubino’s child, and despite everything, she and Figaro reconcile.

An inspection suddenly takes place: the Major, disguised as a revolutionary, appears, and everyone plays along. After he leaves, they realise they must flee, but all exits are locked. The Count reveals a secret passage—the same one he once used to visit Barbarina, Angelika’s mother. It offers their only chance of escape.

The others prepare to leave, but the Count chooses to stay behind and face his fate. The Countess decides to remain with him. The rest say their farewells and depart. The Count and Countess embrace, awaiting whatever is to come.

We recommend that you arrive at least half an hour before the performance begins. If you can arrive earlier, it's even better: 45 minutes before the start of the performance, there is a free audience introduction in the Golden Foyer - an excellent way to approach the performance! Please note that once the performance has started, no one will be allowed into the hall until after the first intermission.

We have put together some useful tips for your visit. Otherwise, our best advice is to arrive on time - discover the Opera House, leave your coat in the cloakroom, eat or drink something. AND, ask our ushers - they'll be happy to help! Outerwear and bags should be left in the cloakroom for safety and evacuation reasons.

You can rebook tickets yourself on the website up to 24 hours before the start of the performance within the the current season. Tickets cannot be cancelled (read more in our general terms and conditions).

Of course you can! Our partner Restaurang Grodan is on the ground floor facing Strömgatan - take the opportunity to book a table ahead of your visit! Each floor also has a service with drinks and snacks, at the stalls' café there is a slightly larger selection. We advice you to pre-book the intermission service so it is ready and waiting for you during the interval!