It’s a busy day in the manor house as the staff prepare for the marriage of the wily valet Figaro and his quick-witted fiancée, the maid Susanna. But the head of the house, Count Almaviva, wants Susanna for himself—and he’s used to getting his way. With the help of the slighted Countess, Figaro and Susanna work to turn the manor upside down in order to exchange their holy vows of matrimony. 

You can’t help but fall in love with Mozart’s endearing comedy of schemes and disguises. But hidden beneath its lighthearted façade is an exploration of the social constructs of power and class. At every turn, the servants are one step ahead of the Count.

Set at the birth of America, San Francisco Opera’s production highlights the deconstruction of class within a recently-built manor house. Scaffolding, blueprints and the dust of recently plastered walls pervade Erhard Rom’s set design, suggesting a new world emerging that challenges old ideals.  

Conductor Sebastian Weigle makes an exciting house debut on the podium.