The duet "Aprite Presto Aprite" from W.A.Mozart's opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" which translates to "Open Quicky Open" is sung by Cherubino (Mezzo soprano) and Susanna (Soprano), during Act 2, Scene 11 (The Aria Database).
In the Countess' bedroom, Cherubino, Susanna and the Countess try to dress Cherubino up as a girl. They plan to "seduce" the count in order for him to get caught by his wife. As the Countess exits the room, Susanna and Cherubino hear the Count coming in. Cherubino hides. When the Count leaves, Susanna tries to flee Cherubino since the Count is still around. Cherubino decides to jump off the window to the garden, a thought that frightens Susanna (Arisona Opera).
According to George Henry Hubert Lascelles, Earl of Harewood the duet "Aprite Presto Aprite" has no meaning and offers no essential value in the opera (Opera 1989). However, Alan Tyson supports that in the original manuscript, this duet is written both as an aria and as a recitativo. This indicates that Mozart himself considered this very fast duettino important (Mozart - Studies of the Autograph Scores). Even though this duet is very short, it displays the nervousness of both Susanna and Cherubino as well as Cherubino's terror over the Count finding him. The duet is sung as pianissimo, portraying the secrecy of the planning while at the same time the fast tempo and words indicate the need to hurry up and not to get caught. Susanna's scream at the end of the duettino is another way of portraying her horror when Cherubino jumps off the window while at the same time it turns into laughter as she sees him running safely across the garden.
The arias libretto is translated as follows: (The Aria Database).
Susanna
Aprite, presto aprite
Open, quickly open
Aprite è la Susanna
Open, it is Susanna
Sortite via sortite
Come out
Andate via di qua
You have to leave from here
Cherubino
Oimè che scena oribile!
Oh, what a terrible scene
Che gran fatalità!
What a disaster!
Susanna
Di la, di là!
From here, from here.
Le porte son serrate
The doors are locked
Tutti
Che mai sarà!
What do we do now?
Cherubino
Qui perdersi non giova.
We need to do something.
Susanna
V'uccide se vi trova.
If he finds you, you are done.
Cherubino
Veggiamo un po' qui fuori.
Let me look outside.
Dà proprio nel giardino.
From the garden
Susanna
Fermate, Cherubino!
Stop Cherubino
Fermate per pietà!
Stop, please.
Cherubino
Un vaso o due di fiori,
A vase or two of flowers
più mal non avverrà.
It will not get worse than that.
Susanna
Tropp'alto per un salto,
It is too high for a jump
fermate per pietà!
Stop, please
Cherubino
Lasciami, pria di nuocerle
Let me jump
nel fuoco volerei.
I'd jump into fire
Abbraccio te per lei -
I hug you for her.
addio, così si fa.
goodbye, it is done.
Susanna
Ei va a perire, oh Dei!
He will hurt himself, for sure.
Fermate per pietà; fermate!
Stop please, Stop!
AAAAHHH!
AAAAHHHH!
You can read more facts about the opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" in the blog: Le Nozze di Figaro - Facts About The Opera
You can read the opera's synopsis in the blog: Opera - Le Nozze di Figaro - Synopsis
You can read more about the Contessa's aria in the blog here: Opera - 'Le Nozze Di Figaro' - "Dove Sono"
You can read more about the Countess and Susanna's duet in the blog here: Opera - Le Nozze di Figaro - Sull'Aria
You can read more about Figaro and Susanna's duet in the blog here: Opera - Le Nozze di Figaro - Cinque, Dieci, Venti
References:
The Aria Database - Aprite presto aprite
Arisona Opera - The Marriage of Figaro
Google Books - Opera 1989 -George Henry Hubert Lascelles, Earl of Harewood
Good Books - Mozart - Studies of the Autograph Scores
2026
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