Act I

Figaro, Count Almaviva’s servant, is about to marry Susanna, the Countess’s maid, but the Count wants to sleep with her. Figaro vows to thwart the Count’s plans. Doctor Bartolo and Marcellina enter. Cherubino, a young page comes in.  The count arrives. Cherubino hides while Almaviva sets up a tryst with Susanna. The Count also has to hide when Don Basilio, the music teacher enters. Almaviva finds Cherubino and is angry because he overheard him propositioning Susanna.

Act II

The Countess’s bedroom. Almaviva knocks and Cherubino hides in a cupboard. Almaviva is suspicious and demands it be opened, claiming Susanna is inside. The Countess refuses. Almaviva, taking the Countess, goes to get a crow bar.  Cherubino comes out and jumps from the bedroom window while Susanna goes into it. The Count and Countess return and the cupboard is opened.  They are dumbfounded when Susanna comes out. Almaviva begs forgiveness for his suspicions. Figaro arrives with Antonio, the gardener, who saw someone jumping from the window - who crushed his flowers. Figaro claims it was him. The gardener produces Cherubino’s dropped commission. Almaviva hears Marcellina’s claim that Figaro is obliged to marry her to pay off a debt. 

Act III

Marcellina and Bartolo and their attorney Don Curzio confront Figaro, who tells them he is of noble birth – but stolen by thieves as an infant and he can only marry with his parents’ consent. He shows his birthmark and Marcellina and Bartolo recognize it as their son’s. Figaro embraces his long-lost mother. Later the Countess dictates a letter from Susanna to the Count. The Countess plans to surprise Almaviva in the garden. Susanna slips the Count “her” letter. 

Act IV

The Countess and Susanna are in the garden, each dressed as the other. The Count declares his love for Susanna, who is really the Countess, while Figaro tells the Countess, who is really Susanna, about the tryst, but he realizes it is she under the Countess’s cloak. The Count sees their embrace, and is about to expose them when his wife takes off her disguise as Susanna. Almaviva is shamed and apologizes to his wife for both his jealousy and his infidelity.