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Opera Performance

Thursday, December 09, 2021
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location

SSB Auditorium

Details

Così fan tutte

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Scenes from Act 1

Cast

Ferrando- Austin Stephens

Guglielmo- Eric Curry

Don Alfonso- Jimmy Coogan

Fiordiligi – Rachel Downs

Dorabella- Allison Schweitzer

Despina- Hana Hiromitsu

Musical Numbers

1. Trio - “To doubt Dorabella is simply absurd”
2. Trio – “Woman’s famous faith and constancy”
3. Duet – “See here, Dorabella”
4. Aria – “How I hate to break the news”
5. Quintet – “All is over!”
6. Quintet “Be sure to write me daily”
7. Aria – “Stability in a soldier”
8. Sextet – “I present Miss Despinetta”
9. Trio – “What is so funny”
10. Finale – “Ah how sad and unrelenting”

 Synopsis

 Act 1

Naples, 1790’s

Ferrando and Guglielmo, two young soldiers, discuss the true faithfulness of their fiancées. Don Alfonso, a cynical older gentleman, laughs at the young men and bets that their lovers aren’t as faithful as the two wish to believe. Alfonso wages that in less than 24 hours he can prove that the women are fickle and would easily fall in love with other men. Ferrando and Guglielmo agree to the bet, and the three head off to make plans.

The men’s fiancés, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, are happily comparing pictures of their handsome men when the two soldiers arrive revealing that they have been called off to war. Secretly, the men have made plans to return disguised as other men, and to strictly do whatever Alfonso instructs. The two sisters, full of grief, bid farewell to their lovers. Don Alfonso couldn't be any happier as he sees his plan coming to fruition.

Back in the sisters' home Despina, the  maid, consoles the young mistresses. She tells them to forget their lovers and find new ones. The two sisters remain unconvinced and continue to mourn. Don Alfonso arrives and bribes Despina to help him introduce his two “Albanian visitors” to the sisters without revealing to her his full plot. Even with Despina’s help, Fiordiligi and Dorabella take no interest in the "newcomers.” After being rejected as Albanians, the soldiers rejoice over their fiancées' faithfulness, but Alfonso reminds them they have a whole day ahead of them.

Later that same day, Don Alfonso and Despina hatch another plan. The disguised men visit the sisters again, this time feigning sickness and claiming to have been poisoned. The women call for Despina's help. She tells them to look over the men while she fetches a doctor. The women are curious and begin to take pity on them. Moments later, Despina returns disguised as the doctor and waves a large magnet over them men's bodies. Suddenly, the "Albanians" instantly regain their health and ask for a kiss from the beautiful young maidens. The ladies are insulted by the assertive advances. Though the act ends with the sisters rejecting the men yet again, their intensity and pity suggest that they have warmed up to them.