Overview
Synopsis
A hilarious farce, Così fan tutte revolved around a bet made among three men; Don Alfonso, the older and more cynical of the bunch, bets Ferrando and Guglielmo that he can prove that their girlfriends, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, are unfaithful like all women. Don Alfonso, with the help of Despina, the girls’ maid, sets up the plot to pretend to send the men off to war, but then disguise them as “Albanians” in the attempts to seduce the other man’s girlfriend. After many comical struggles, and absurd tricks, Despina and Alfonso succeed in duping the quartet and putting the two couples into situations where they are forced to decide. Both girls agree to marry the “Albanians,” and Fiordiligi and Ferrando have appeared to have fallen in love, when it is announced that their old boyfriends have returned home. The men reveal themselves, and the ladies ask for their forgiveness. Alfonso wins the bet and gloats, hoping that they have all learned their lesson.
Show Information
- Book
- Lorenzo Da Ponte
- Music
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1790
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- 18th century, naples
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- None
- Ideal For
- Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Overture
Act I
- No.1: Trio: La Mia Dorabella capace non è (Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
- No. 2: Trio: È la fede della femmine (Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
- No. 3: Trio: Una bella serrenata (Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
- No. 4: Duet: Ah guarda sorella (Fiordiligi, Dorabella)
- No. 5: Aria: Vorrei dir (Don Alfonso)
- No. 6.: Quintet: Sento, o Dio, che questo piede (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
- No. 7: Duettino: Al fato dan legge quegli occhi (Ferrando, Guglielmo)
- No. 8: Coro: Bella vita militar (Coro)
- No. 9: Quintet: Di scrivermi ogni giorno (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso)
- No. 10: Terzettino: Soave sia il vento (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Don Alfonso)
- No. 11: Aria: _Smanie implacabili _(Dorabella)
- No. 12: Aria: In uomini, in soldati (Despina)
- No. 13: Sextet: Alla bella Despinetta (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
- No. 14: Aria: Come scoglio immoto resta (Fiordiligi)
- No. 15: Aria: _Non siate ritrosi… Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo_ (Guglielmo)
- No. 16: Trio: E voi ridete (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso)
- No. 17: Aria: Un’aura amorosa (Ferrando)
- No. 18: Finale: Ah che tutta in un momento (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
Act II
- No. 19: Aria: Una donna a quindici anni (Despina)
- No. 20: Duet: _Prenderò quel brunettino _(Fiordiligi, Dorabella)
- No. 21: Duet and Coro: Secondate aurette amiche (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Coro)
- No. 22: Quartet: La mano a me date (Despina, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso)
- No. 23: Duet: Il core vi dono, bell’idolo mio (Dorabella, Guglielmo)
- No. 24: Aria: Ah lo veggio qull’anima bella (Ferrando)
- No. 25: Aria: Per pietà, ben mio (Fiordiligi)
- No. 26: Aria: Donne mie la fate a tanti (Guglielmo)
- No 27: Aria: Tradito, schernito (Ferrando)
- No. 28: Aria: E amore un ladroncelio (Dorabella)
- No. 29: Duet: Fra fli amplessi (Fiordiligi, Ferrando)
- No. 30: Trio: Tutti accuan le donne (Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
- No. 31: Finale: Fate presto o cari amici (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Guglielmo)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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