31.01.2026

MICHAEL SCHADE as Major in Figaro Gets a Divorce at the Royal Swedish Opera

Figaro Gets a Divorce is the third part of the Figaro trilogy and picks up where Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro end. The opera tells the story of what became of Figaro, Susanna and the Almaviva family after the comedic entanglements of the classical originals – albeit in a much darker tone. In times of political upheaval and revolutionary violence, the characters find themselves on the run.

At the centre of this dynamic is the Major, an opaque and powerful figure who systematically undermines the relationships between the characters with targeted revelations, lies and psychological manipulation. Without resorting to overt violence, but using moral blackmail, he drives the characters into existential conflicts, making him one of the most fascinating roles in the work.

Michael Schade is a top-class choice for this key role. As one of the leading tenors of our time, he has shaped an exceptionally broad repertoire over decades. His debut at the Royal Swedish Opera with Figaro Gets a Divorce marks another important step in a career characterised by curious role choices and an intense engagement with the characters.

Elena Langer's colourful, dramatic and at the same time playful music moves between orchestral modernism, edgy jazz and echoes of film music. Premiered at the Welsh National Opera in 2016, the opera was immediately recognised as one of those rare contemporary operas that captivate the audience from the very beginning. The libretto by David Pountney, based on Beaumarchais' La mère coupable and Ödön von Horváth's Figaro Gets a Divorce, tells of loss, betrayal and the question of whether love and truthfulness can survive under extreme conditions.

With its premiere on 31 January 2026 at the Royal Swedish Opera, Figaro Gets a Divorce takes centre stage in Swedish opera life for the first time – and Michael Schade, as the Major, is at the dramatic and musical heart of this highly exciting reinterpretation of the Figaro trilogy.