Se vuol ballare

The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro (1778).

Figaro's voice type is given as bass in the score, but in modern performance practice is sung by a bass-baritone.

Susanna has told her fiancé Figaro that the count intends to exercise his newly reasserted feudal Droit du seigneur, the ius primae noctis, to sleep with her before their marriage.

Se vuol ballare, signor contino, se vuol ballare, signor contino, il chitarrino le suonerò, il chitarrino le suonerò, sì, le suonerò, sì, le suonerò.. Literal translation If you want to dance, my little count, If you want to dance, my little count, I'll play the little guitar for you, I'll play the little guitar for you, yes, I'll play for you, yes, I'll play for you.

I will be cunning, slyly deceiving, cutting and running, ducking and weaving.

Beethoven wrote a series of 12 variations for piano and violin, WoO 40, on the theme of "Se vuol ballare".