Così fan tutte (1997)
Opera Buffa in Two Acts
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
English translation by Andrew Porter
Commissioned in 1982 by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and revised for this production
The opera is given in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe edition, edited by Faye Ferguson and Wolfgang Rehm. It is used by arrangement with Biirenreiter-Verlag, publisher and copyright owner. Bärenreiter-Verlag, publisher and copyright owner.
Cosi fan tutte was first performed at the Burgtheater, Vienna, on 26 January 1790.
Dates of Performance
May 29, 31; June 4, 6, 10, 13, 18, 22, 25 (matinée), 28 (matinée).
1997 Season
Madame Butterfly Così fan tutte
Transformations The Tale of Orpheus
Photo Gallery
Cast
Harold Gray Meers
Ferrando
Richard Byrne
Guilelmo
Richard Stilwell
Don Alfonso
Juliana Rambaldi
Fiordiligi
Patricia Risley
Dorabella
Cheryl Parrish
Despina
Creative Team
Richard Bradshaw
Conductor
David William
Stage Director
Teresa Przybylski
Designer
Christopher Akerlind
Lighting Designer
Tom Watson
Wig & Makeup Designer
Cary John Franklin
Chorus Master
Ben Malensek
Repetiteur
Elkhanah Pulitzer
Assistant Director
Molly Dill
Stage Manager
David S. Levy
Assistant Stage Manager
Carrie Ann Neuzerling
Assistant Stage Manager
Synopsis
Provoked by the misogynistic assertions of their friend, the elderly philosopher Don Alfonso, Ferrando and Guilelmo, two young army officers, agree to wager with him on the proven fidelity of their fiancées, Dorabella and Fiordiligi, who are on vacation in Naples with their maid Despina.
Don Alfonso devises an elaborate scenario of seduction for the young men to enact and bribes Despina to assist him. First, the soldiers take heartbroken leave of their sweethearts and depart for the battlefield. Later the same day, they return, but disguised so exotically that the girls do not recognize them. Each proceeds to woo the other’s fiancée. Both girls passionately resist at first, but eventually yield.
Unexpectedly, however, the young men find that their disguises have backfired; their feelings are no less inconstant than the girls’. The plot culminates in a double betrothal (of the “wrong” couples), after which all is explained and forgiven. Recognition encourages the original pairings, but for how long? What has been discovered?
O me! What eyes hath love put in my head,
Which have no correspondence with true sight!
Opera Theatre dedicates these performances of Casi fan tutte to the memory of Marjorie Wyman, whose friendship and devotion to the company will be deeply missed.
This production is made possible by a major gift from Emerson Electric Co., whose continuing generosity is greatly appreciated.
The soloists are sponsored in part by a generous gift from The Clark and Jeanette Gamble Trust.
The preview presentation of Casi fan tutte for St. Louis area seniors and students was made possible by Southwestern Bell Foundation.
The costumes for this production have been made possible by a generous gift from Marjorie Wyman.
The services of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra are underwritten in part by Mr. and Mrs. William B. Firestone, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald K. Greenberg, Mr. and Mrs. David W. Mesker, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Shaw, and Dr. G. W. Spector and Barbara Messing.
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