Dutch National Opera
Le nozze di Figaro
Dates
8 – 28 May 2026
Location
Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage
Running time
3:30, incl. 1 interval
Tickets
From € 34
Mozart’s masterpiece about love, power, and deception
With Le nozze di Figaro, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed a tragicomic classic that has been a favourite with audiences ever since it premiered in 1786. Mozart and his librettist Da Ponte switch effortlessly between light-hearted intrigue and existential questions. Kirill Serebrennikov’s stage direction brings the opera’s social criticism into sharp focus, giving it contemporary relevance.
The opera unfolds over the course of one whirlwind day. Figaro and Susanna are preparing for their wedding, but their employer, Count Almaviva, has his eye on Susanna. Meanwhile, his wife, the Countess, finds herself courted by the young Cherubino.
Performance information
New production at Dutch National Opera
Opera buffa in four acts
Sung in Italian
Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto Lorenzo Da Ponte
Musical direction Francesco Corti
Stage direction, set and costume design Kirill Serebrennikov
Revival director, choreography Evgeny Kulagin
Associate set design Olga Pavlyuk
Associate costume design Tatiana Dolmatovskaya
Lighting design Sergey Kucher
Video design Ilya Shagalov
Dramaturgy Daniil Orlov
Cembalo continuo Pedro Beriso
Il Conte Almaviva Björn Bürger
La Contessa Almaviva Olga Kulchynska
Susanna Emily Pogorelc
Figaro Michael Nagl
Cherubina Cecilia Molinari
Marcellina Véronique Gens
Bartolo Anthony Robin Schneider
Basilio Steven van der Linden*
Antonio Frederik Bergman
Cherubino Georgy Kudrenko
The Count's Henchman Nikita Kukushkin (10, 12, 14, 23, 25 May), Nikita Elenev (8, 18, 20, 28 May)
The Young Man Nikita Elenev (10, 12, 14, 23, 25 May), Rowan Kievits (8, 18, 20, 28 May)
The Old Woman Marieke Reuten
* Dutch National Opera Studio
Co-production with Komische Oper Berlin
The story and the characters
Le nozze di Figaro features a large cast of characters and a delightful dose of chaos. And that is exactly the point, so just let it all wash over you. Looking for a little extra guidance? Take a look at this overview of the characters and read the short synopsis.
The story and the characters
One mad day
The morning
Figaro and Susanna, servants to Count Almaviva, are preparing for their wedding. The festive mood changes when Susanna reveals that the Count has been making unwanted advances towards her. Marcellina also threatens their future: she wants Susanna out of the way and, through an old debt, hopes to force Figaro to marry her.
Meanwhile, Cherubino causes unrest. He flirts with the women around him, while failing to see Cherubina’s love for him. When the Count finds him with Susanna, he angrily sends him off to the army.
The afternoon
Susanna tells the Countess about her husband’s behaviour. Together with Figaro, the Countess devises a plan: Susanna will pretend to agree to a meeting with the Count, but Cherubino will appear in her place.
The plan quickly goes awry. Cherubino is hidden, escapes through the window, and Susanna takes his place. The Count becomes entangled in his own suspicion.
The evening
Still, the Count does not give up. As he tries to obstruct Figaro and Susanna’s marriage, Marcellina and Bartolo also come forward with their demands. But their plan turns against them when it emerges that Figaro is their long-lost son. Enemies become allies, and Marcellina decides to support Figaro and Susanna.
The Countess sets a new plan in motion. She and Susanna swap clothes in order to expose the Count once and for all during a nocturnal rendezvous.
The night
At night, all the misunderstandings come together. Because of the disguises, Susanna and the Countess are mistaken for one another by the Count and Figaro. Figaro briefly thinks Susanna is betraying him, but recognises her by her voice.
Together with Susanna and the Countess, he exposes the Count. In front of the entire household, Almaviva has no choice but to show remorse.
Online programme
Alongside the printed programme, online programme information is also available for this performance. In the online programme, you can read the story of the performance and get a behind-the-scenes look through in-depth stories, articles and interviews with the makers and cast.
Audio introduction
Prepare for your visit to Le nozze di Figaro with this Dutch-language audio introduction by Niels Nuijten, dramaturge at Dutch National Opera.
Further into Mozart’s world
Would you like to delve further into Mozart’s world after Le nozze di Figaro? At LAB111, you can see Amadeus, Miloš Forman’s acclaimed film classic, in a new 4K restoration. The film follows Mozart through the eyes of his contemporary Antonio Salieri, bringing his music, life and myth to the big screen.
Screening at LAB111 from 5 to 20 May
Reviews
Le nozze di Figaro sparkles with energy, vitality and musical excellence
The cast, too, is an absolute joy
New Nozze at Dutch National Opera met with jubilant acclaim
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Introduction
An introduction offering background information to enrich your theatre visit takes place 45 minutes before the performance. The introductions are given in Dutch and are free to attend without a reservation. Simply present your ticket for the performance. They take place in the Souterrain.
Introduction to Le nozze di Figaro
Ewout Ganzevoort and Niels Nuijten
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