Classical Wednesday: Mozart – Voi che sapete (Le Nozze di Figaro) (1786)

“Voi che sapete” is a famous, heartfelt aria from Act II of Mozart’s 1786 opera Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro).

Sung by the adolescent, lovesick pageboy Cherubino (a “trouser role” usually performed by a female mezzo-soprano) to the Countess and Susanna, it explores the confusing, intense, and newfound feelings of love.

Key details about this aria include:

• Context: Cherubino sings this song, which he wrote himself, to the Countess, whom he has a deep crush on, while Susanna accompanies him on a guitar.
• Meaning: The title translates to “You who know [what love is],” as Cherubino asks the women to help him understand his overwhelming emotions.
• Musical Role: It is a key example of “diegetic music”—music performed by characters within the story’s world.