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2005.3
Così Fan Tutte |
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1790)
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
OPERA HOUSE
6 performances
March 21(Mon), 23(Wed), 25(Fri), 27(Sun), 29(Tue), 31(Thu) 2005
Approximate running time: 3 hours, 25 minutes |
| Conductor: Dan Ettinger
Director: Kornelia Repschlaeger
Scenery and Costume Design: Davide Pizzigoni
<MAIN CAST>
Fiordiligi: Veronique Gens
Drabella: Nancy Fabiola Herrera
Despina: Nakajima Akiko
Ferrando: John Ken Nuzzo
Guglielmo: Rudolf Rosen
Don Alfonso: Bernd Weikl |
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| Background |
| Following Don Giovanni in 2000 and Le Nozze di
Figaro in 2003, the last of the da Ponte trilogy will be
staged at the NNTT. It is believed that Emperor Joseph II, who
saw a successful revival of Le Nozze di Figaro, commissioned
Mozart to write this work. The title Così Fan Tutte
(Women Are Like That) is taken from Basilio’s words
in Act I of Le Nozze di Figaro. Of the trilogy, Don
Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro were highly acclaimed
as masterpieces immediately after they were first performed
whereas Così Fan Tutte was considered immoral
and frivolous because of its libretto, which took absurd exchanges
of lovers as its subject, and was not well received until the
early 20th century. Even Beethoven, Wagner, Hofmannsthal and
other artists are believed to have criticized the work. Although,
on the face of it, it takes on a look of being a trifling comedy,
Mozart’s sharp insights into the delicate feelings of
men and women, while the true nature of human beings and their
foolishness are hidden behind the well-balanced beautiful music.
Today, it is considered one of Mozart’s immortal works
and its true value recognized. The distinctive features of this
opera are that only six characters appear and that it has more
duets, trios and quartets than arias. It will be interesting
to see how skillfully the conductor Ettinger will lead the ensembles.
Also, attention is focused on how Kornelia Repschläger
will direct the delicate changes in the feelings of the sisters
from a viewpoint that can only be provided by a female director.
The cast of singers will include Fabiola Herrera, John Ken Nuzzo,
Bernd Weikl and other popular singers who appeared at the NNTT
during the 2003/2004 season. |
| Synopsis |
| The action takes place in Naples at the end of the 18th century.
The officers Guglielmo and Ferrando are engaged to the beautiful sisters
Fiordiligi and Dorabella, respectively. Persuaded by the wise old
philosopher Don Alfonso, the two officers decide to test the fidelity
of their sweethearts. They pretend that they have been ordered away
by their regiment and bid the sisters a false farewell. Later, disguised
as Albanians, the two men court Fiordiligi and Dorabella passionately.
At first, the two girls reject the Albanians, but partly due to the
maid Despina’s encouragement, the two girls weaken little by
little to the Albanians’ various advances. First, Dorabella
yields to her sister’s fiancé Guglielmo, and finally,
Fiordiligi also succumbs to Ferrando after much resistance. Don Alfonso
gloats, “Women are like that.” When a double wedding for
the two new couples is being arranged, a military march suddenly signals
the return of the army. The two disguised men flee, and Guglielmo
and Ferrando appear in front of the two sisters as officers and question
the two sisters’ infidelity. Fiordiligi and Dorabella beg forgiveness,
and Don Alfonso discloses the trick, uniting the two men with their
respective lovers. |
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| <Conductor> |
<Director> |
<Scenery and Costume Design> |
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| Dan Ettinger |
Kornelia Repschlaeger |
Davide Pizzigoni |
| <Main Cast> |
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| Veronique Gens |
Nancy Fabiola Herrera |
Nakajima Akiko |
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| John Ken Nuzzo |
Rudolf Rosen |
Bernd Weikl |
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