State Opera South Australia's production of the comic opera Così fan tutte is coming this August. Here's what you need to know.
In short
The opera was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) who wrote over 600 works in his lifetime, 22 of which were operas.
This story is about an old cynical bachelor Don Alfonso who bets two young men that their lovers will be unfaithful in the face of temptation. Determined to prove him wrong, the two young men pretend to go to war, then return in disguise to seduce the other's lover.
You'll love this if you loved HBO's The White Lotus. Drama, infidelity, deception and a stunning Italian resort, this opera is a guide to navigating the complicated world of modern romance.
Random fact Mozart is said to have deliberately composed Fiordiligi’s dramatic aria with high and low notes, causing her to 'bob her head like a chicken' on stage. This was due to his dislike for the soprano who was cast in the role.
Who was Mozart?
Portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1819) by Barbara Krafft. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Austrian prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in 1756, was a skilled musician and composer by age five. Mozart traveled Europe before settling in Vienna as a freelance artist.
Mozart's compositions are characterised by their emotional intensity, technical mastery and beautiful melodies. His work often featured complex harmonies and multiple layers of sound, all of which are showcased in Così fan tutte.
What happens in the story?
The story unfolds over the course of one day, where an old cynical bachelor Don Alfonso bets two young men that their lovers will be unfaithful in the face of temptation.
Determined to prove him wrong, the two young men pretend to go to war returning in disguise as Albanians to seduce the other's lover. Unaware of the deception, the women find themselves drawn to these strangers. Temptation and trickery put both relationships to the test.
Image: Murray Summerville, courtesy of Opera Queensland
The characters
- Fiordiligi: a young woman (soprano Sky Ingram)
- Dorabella: another young woman, Fiordiligi's sister (mezzo-soprano Anna Dowsley)
- Despina: their maid (soprano Jessica Dean)
- Ferrando: a soldier, engaged to Dorabella (tenor Kyle Stegall)
- Guglielmo: a soldier, engaged to Fiordiligi (baritone Nicholas Lester)
- Don Alfonso: an old philosopher (baritone Christopher Hillier)
Why should I go to see it?
Così takes a deep dive into the nature of human relationships, strength of character and the innate human concept of fidelity. The dramatic quadrangle sees the lovers plunged into a whirlwind of self-discovery as they come to understand that what they believe of themselves, their own loyalty and infallibility, may not pass the test.
Mozart also employed musical sound effects to help tell the story, using the orchestra to paint a soundscape for Naples: keep an ear out for the clarinet’s unhurried tunes, painting a picture of a relaxed, beachside, summer day.
Listen to the score
Conversation starters and other trivia
Image: Murray Summerville, courtesy of Opera Queensland
- This story is rumoured to have been based on a real-life incident which scandalised late 18th century Vienna.
- Despite rumors of being poisoned by his rival Antonio Salieri, Mozart, who had lifelong health issues, died of kidney disease at 35, two years after the premiere of his opera, Così fan tutte.