Le Nozze di Figaro: The Embodiment of the Enlightenment through the Lens of Vocal Art and Drama

Abstract

Opera has historically been a powerful vehicle for political expression, conveying messages far beyond the music and drama on stage. This study investigates opera's role in shaping political thought during the Enlightenment, focusing on Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. Far from mere entertainment, this opera, inspired by Beaumarchais’ controversial play Le Mariage de Figaro, was a powerful medium for social critique. Set in the context of 18th-century Europe, the opera reflects the ideals of the Enlightenment, challenging the established social order and promoting concepts such as individual rights, equality, and reason. By analyzing the opera’s characters musically and dramatically, this analysis reveals how Le Nozze di Figaro critiques the feudal system and catalyzes revolutionary thought, particularly concerning the French Revolution. This paper concludes that the fusion of music and literature in opera, exemplified by Le Nozze di Figaro, was instrumental in shaping the revolutionary movements that transformed Europe, demonstrating opera’s enduring relevance as a political and social change force.