Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Figaro

Beaumarchais' play Le mariage de Figaro was rejected three times by censors, who represented the interests of Louis XVI. The play was being read at court with Marie Antoinette reading the part of Susanna. The royals wanted the play left in their circles only. However, Beaumarchais wanted the approval of the man and woman in the street, so he kept revising in order to please the censors. When the play finally debuted, it took five hours to perform, it was interrupted so many times by applause. Several composers were interested in setting it to music, including Mozart and Da Ponte. Here are Anna Netrebko and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo.