The Marriage of Figaro

The Marriage of Figaro (or Le nozze di Figaro) is an opera buffa composed in 1786 by Mozart. The libretto, by Lorenzo Da Ponte, is based on the play La folle journée, ou le mariage de Figaro by Pierre de Beaumarchais.

English quotations are cited from the translation by Hannah Kilpatrick.


 * Non so più cosa son, cosa faccio... Or di fuoco, ora sono di ghiaccio... Ogni donna cangiar di colore, Ogni donna mi fa palpitar. Solo ai nomi d’amor, di diletto Mi si turba, mi s'altera il petto, E a parlare mi sforza d’amore Un desio ch'io non posso spiegar!
 * I don't know what I am any more, or what I'm doing Now I'm on fire, now I'm freezing Every woman makes me change colour, Every woman makes my heart flutter. Simply at the name of love, of delight I am upset, and my heart beats faster And I find myself talking of love From a need I can't explain.
 * Cherubino, Act I, sc. v


 * Così fan tutte le belle!
 * All pretty women are like that.
 * Basilio, Act I, sc. vii
 * Così fan tutte was later used as the title of another opera by Mozart and Da Ponte.


 * Non più andrai, farfallone amoroso, Notte e giorno d'intorno girando, Delle belle turbando il riposo, Narcisetto, Adoncino d'amor.
 * No more you'll wander, my amorous little butterfly, Flitting about by day and night Disturbing the rest of all those pretty women My little Narcissus, young Adonis of love.
 * Figaro, Act I, sc. viii


 * Ricerco un bene fuori di me, Non so chi 'l tiene, non so cos'è. Sospiro e gemo senza voler, Palpito e tremo senza saper, Non trovo pace notte né dì: Ma pur mi piace languir così.
 * I look for something beautiful outside of myself, I don't know who has it, I don't know what it is. I sigh and groan without wanting to, I quiver and tremble without knowing it, I find no peace night or day, And yet I like suffering this way!
 * Cherubino, Act II, sc. iii


 * Aprite un po' quegli occhi Uomini incauti e sciocchi, Guardate queste femmine, Guardate cosa son. Queste chiamate Dee Dagli ingannati sensi, A cui tributa incensi La debole ragion, Son streghe che incantano Per farci penar, Sirene che cantano Per farci affogar. Civette che allettano Per trarci le piume, Comete che brillano Per toglierci il lume.
 * Open your eyes a little, Incautious and stupid men, Look at these women, Look at what they are! These you call goddesses With your cheated senses To whom our weak reason Burns incense, They're witches who enchant To cause us pain, Sirens that sing To land us on the rocks, Owls who allure To steal our feathers, Comets that shine To take our light away.
 * Figaro, Act IV, sc. viii