The Marriage of Figaro’s music in popular culture
The Marriage of Figaro is one of Mozart’s most popular operas and is filled with recognisable and memorable musical moments. As such, the music from the opera has appeared in film, TV and advertising soundtracks. We’ve selected three top tunes from the opera that audience members may recognise from appearances in popular culture.
The Overture from The Marriage of Figaro
The punchy overture from The Marriage of Figaro is one of the most recognisable opera overtures of all time. It expertly builds anticipation for Mozart’s comic opera, and we can’t wait to hear WNO Orchestra’s rendition. If you’re wondering where you know this tune from, it could be from its use in the film The King’s Speech. This film shows the story of King George VI working to overcome his stutter using a variety of methods, one of which is speaking over classical music. The first time his speech coach employs this method, he hands him headphones with the overture playing, and despite his doubts, it helps him to speak fluently for the first time.
A snippet of the overture is also used in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. To enter the factory, Wonka presses a few keys on a small piano to unlock the door which results in the opening to this overture playing. Mike Teevee’s mother the proceeds to incorrectly cite it as being a piece by Rachmaninoff before the doors open to the factory.
Susanna and the Countess’s Letter Duet
Sull’aria...Che soave zeffiretto (On the breeze…What a gentle little Zephyr), also known as the Letter Duet, is one of the most musically poignant moments in the opera, and it was also famously used in the Hollywood blockbuster The Shawshank Redemption. The main character Andy takes a record of Mozart’s opera and in an act of defiance selects this aria to be played across the prison for the inmates to hear. They all stop what they’re doing to listen, and Morgan Freeman’s character Red states that when he and the other prisoners heard the music, they all felt free.
Voi che sapete
Cherubino’s charming aria is one of teenage innocence and passion for an older woman, the Countess. The piece was featured in the 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice which sees Elizabeth Bennet singing and playing the piece on the harpsichord as Mr. Darcy looks on. The aria is also featured in Wonder Woman 1984, heard as Diana shows Steve, who is originally from the first world war, around the modern world of 1984. In both cases, the aria has a similar purpose to that in Mozart’s opera of showing fresh love and innocence.
You can hear these pieces in our dazzling returning production of The Marriage of Figarothis Spring 2025 Season. Join our stellar cast in a whirlwind of clever schemes and Mozart’s melodic brilliance as we explore some of his finest melodies and catchiest tunes.
