A FRESH NEW TAKE ON MOZART’S ROMANTIC COMEDY
Two sisters bid a tearful farewell to their battle-bound fiancés. Armed with disguises and wily determination, the ladies have the last laugh—outwitting their future husbands’ mischievous “fidelity test.”
Mozart’s Così fan tutte is sometimes silly, often romantic, and always a delight. This new production from celebrated director Michael Cavanagh will whisk you away to an opulent 1930s country club and features some of the brightest stars in opera today. Hear them deliver memorable melody after melody—trust us, you’ll leave wanting more!
Featuring Metropolitan Opera powerhouse Rodney Gilfry as the trouble-making Don Alfonso and as the men who should have known better: David Portillo, praised for his warm, sexy tenor; and Dallas favorite and Grammy Award-winner Lucas Meachem.
Elizabeth Askren conducts this production from San Francisco Opera.
Read the Program Book!
This production is an original production of the San Francisco Opera
Scenery construction and painting by the San Francisco Opera Scene Shop
Costumes fabricated by the San Francisco Opera Costume Shop
Show Details
Language
Sung in Italian with English Titles
Running Time
The performance will be approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes including one intermission.
Rating
Rated PG
Stream for Free
Available Aug 1-Sep 30
We’re thrilled to release our 2022/2023 Mainstage productions for FREE. Enjoy renowned cast members, amazing costumes, dramatic sets, and entertaining behind-the-scenes content—all available to stream on your Smart TV at home or wherever you may be.
Cast
Caitlin Gotimer
FiordiligiKayleigh Decker
DorabellaDavid Portillo
FerrandoLucas Meachem
GuglielmoRod Gilfry
Don AlfonsoDiana Newman
DespinaCreative Team
Elizabeth Askren
ConductorMichael Cavanagh
Original DirectorErhard Rom
Set DesignerConstance Hoffman
Costume DesignerAlexander Rom
Chorus MasterSynopsis
ACT I
Don Alfonso is trying to enlighten Ferrando and Guglielmo as to the true nature of women. He places a bet that he can prove their fiancées, Dorabella and Fiordiligi, are not the icons of purity the young men believe them to be. Both sides are confident of victory within twenty-four hours, and during this period Ferrando and Guglielmo agree to do as they are told by Alfonso.
Sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella are celebrating the virtues of their lovers. Alfonso tells them that their men have been called up and must leave immediately for the “front lines”. The men feign a tearful farewell scene and “go off to war.” The women are devastated but their maid, Despina, tells them to look on the bright side and have a good time in their absence—in other words, behave exactly as men would do.
Don Alfonso enlists Despina in his scheme, and he presents two “Albanian” friends to the sisters. Neither Fiordiligi nor Dorabella recognize Guglielmo and Ferrando in disguise.
Offended to see the strange men, Fiordiligi and Dorabella are repelled by their advances. They declare fidelity to their lovers. The young men are delighted but Alfonso is still confident in his ultimate triumph.
The sisters continue to grieve for their men at the front. The two Albanians return and, despondent in the women’s rejection, swallow “poison” and collapse. The terrified girls call for Despina, who goes to find a doctor who claims to cure any illness by magnetism. The men revive and believing they are in heaven, demand a kiss from their “angels,” Fiordiligi and Dorabella. The sisters rebuff their advances once again.
ACT II
Despina persuades the sisters to befriend their new admirers. They decide on preferences: Dorabella chooses Guglielmo; Fiordiligi selects Ferrando. Each has instinctively chosen the other’s partner. Dorabella yields to Guglielmo, exchanging lockets as a pledge of fidelity. Meanwhile, Fiordiligi rejects Ferrando.
Ferrando and Guglielmo report on their progress. Ferrando is furious at the infidelity of his fiancée, Dorabella.
Despina and Dorabella put pressure on Fiordiligi to have fun. Fiordiligi decides she must run away to join Guglielmo at war, but Ferrando confronts her again and she finally yields. Agonized, Guglielmo witnesses it all. Don Alfonso has proven his point and won the bet.
Don Alfonso and Despina arrange for the new couples to be “married” by Despina, disguised as a notary. As the girls sign their names, a military band is heard, signaling that the soldiers have returned unexpectedly. In the confusion, the two men disappear, reemerging without their disguise. Shocked at the evidence of a wedding they swear vengeance on their rivals.
The entire plot is finally revealed. All four lovers’ certainties have been destroyed and no one knows quite what to believe, except that human nature is far more complex than they ever imagined.
Courtesy of San Francisco Opera
Pre- and Post-Opera Discussions
Join us for these engaging and informative pre- and post-opera discussions:
Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk: Hosted by Elizabeth Askren, alumna and Faculty Ambassador for TDO’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors, this interactive 30-minute lecture begins one hour before the start of each opera in the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall. Admission is free with your ticket to a Dallas Opera performance.
Sunday Post-Opera Talkback: Immediately following the Sunday matinee performance from the stage, this brief and casual Q&A session with members of the cast gives you an opportunity to ask questions about the performance. Hosted by Kristian Roberts, Director of Education at The Dallas Opera.
Sponsors
Mary Anne Cree, in memory of Rosine Smith Sammons
2022/2023 Season Sponsor
Martha McCarty Wells; Betty and Steve Suellentrop
Presenting Sponsors
Ruth Bison, in honor of Mary Allgood
Supporting Sponsor