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Opera Synopses
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Così fan tutteBy W. A. MozartLibretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte Time: about 1790 Act IAs the opera opens two young Neapolitan officers, Guglielmo and Ferrando, are having a heated discussion in a café about the nature of women with their older, wiser and somewhat jaded companion, Don Alfonso. This being the enlightened late 18th century, Don Alfonso suggests their view of love is romantic and unrealistic. The young men protest to the heavens on behalf of their virtuous and beautiful lovers, Fiordiligi and Dorabella. Don Alfonso is determined to clear their clouded vision and proposes a friendly wager to test the fidelity of Fiordiligi and Dorabella. The young men accept the wager confidently and agree to do whatever Don Alfonso wishes for 24 hours, believing their lovers could never be inconstant. The scene shifts to the seaside garden of Fiordiligi and Dorabella. The two sisters share equally romantic fantasies about their lovers, Guglielmo and Ferrando. As they dream about marriage and love, they impatiently wonder what has delayed the men. Don Alfonso arrives to begin his entrapment scenario. He tells the ladies that their lovers have been called to active duty and will set sail within the hour. Guglielmo and Ferrando enter and the five sing an emotionally charged farewell. As a small ship shuttles Guglielmo and Ferrando to the regiment, Alfonso, Fiordiligi and Dorabella share a loving adieu. This beautiful trio marks the single calm before the storm of passions that soon engulfs everyone: (Soave sia il vento, tranquilla sia l’onda, ed ogni elemento benigno risponda ai vostri desir – “Gentle be the breeze, calm be the waves, and every element smile in favor on their wish”). The innocence and delicacy are short-lived as the scene switches to the kitchen, where the sisters’ maid, Despina, is preparing chocolate. Despina, the mother of invention and opportunity, laments her lowly status as she prepares the ladies snack. When Fiordiligi and Dorabella enter, they begin a feverish account of their lovers’ departure. Despina reminds them that there are many fish in the sea, and the sisters reprimand her heartless insolence. Dorabella cannot be comforted and details her anguish (Simanie implacabili). The mourning continues unabated. Don Alfonso prepares to enlist the help of Despina in his plot to undo Fiordiligi and Dorabella. He finds Despina at home and offers her money if she will introduce his two love-lorn Albanian friends – Ferrando and Guglielmo in disguise – to Fiordiligi and Dorabella. She gleefully accepts – for the money. The two sisters enter and are horrified to think that two strange men are in their house. When the two Albanians proffer their admiration and devotion, the women are outraged. Fiordiligi vehemently protests that she is a rock of fidelity (Come scoglio). The sisters repulse the would-be suitors. The elated Guglielmo and Ferrando believe they have won their wager. But Alfonso and Despina have a greater test in mind. Back in the garden, the sisters continue to languish for their departed lovers. Enter again the Albanians, who have swallowed “poison” because the sisters have refused them. The Albanians are revived through the auspices of a fortuitous Doctor, Despina in disguise, who uses Mesmer’s own magnet to counter the effects of the poison. When the Albanians miraculously recover (Dove son), they are brimming with ardor, and request kisses from Fiordiligi and Dorabella. They again receive fiery rebukes from the sisters. Guglielmo and Ferrando exult in their faithfulness. On the other hand, Despina and Alfonso agree that this fire will easily change to love with a little additional fuel. Act IIDespina uses memorable pragmatism (Una donna a quindici anni) to convince the sisters that it is their destiny to engage in some mild and innocent flirtation to pass the empty hours. After much protestation, Dorabella and Fiordiligi finally agree to entertain the Albanians. To complicate matters, Dorabella chooses her sister’s fiancé, the Albanian Guglielmo, leaving Fiordiligi, the rock, to dally with the fair one, Ferrando in disguise. The Albanians arrive to serenade the sisters in their garden. Guglielmo walks away with Dorabella and presents her with a heart, a token of his love. Dorabella accepts after a few recriminations and presents Guglielmo with her own small token. On another path, Ferrando pleads with Fiordiligi, who weakens but regains some composure. She remains steadfast in her love for her departed soldier, Guglielmo. Ferrando hastens to tell Guglielmo that he should again exult in Fiordiligi’s fidelity. Guglielmo reluctantly shows Ferrando the token of Dorabella’s betrayal, a locket containing Ferrando’s own miniature (Donne mie, la fate a tanti)! He feels remorse for his friend’s pain. Ferrando professes that he still loves Dorabella even though she has betrayed him (Tradito schernito). Back at home Fiordiligi admits to Despina and Dorabella that the Albanian has also won her heart, but she pledges her continued fidelity to Guglielmo. Despina again uses her logic to try to persuade Fiordiligi that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. When alone, Fiordiligi dons Ferrando’s regimental attire, because it fits, and flies off to force Dorabella to do the same with Guglielmo’s. Thus bedecked, they will both run off to their fiancés on the front. Witnessing this spectacle, Guglielmo thinks his Fiordiligi is a true paragon of virtue, until Ferrando enters, feigns suicide, and at long last receives the fatal “do with me what you will” from the overwrought Fiordiligi. Both Ferrando and Guglielmo castigate one another for capturing the hearts of the other’s beloved – in less than a day! Don Alfonso assuages them somewhat with his philosophy that all women are alike, but he forgives them (Tutti accusan le donne, ed io le scuso). He assures the men that is how all women do it: così fan tutte. To seal the wager, a mock wedding has been arranged. Don Alfonso brings in a notary, Despina in disguise yet again, and the foursome sign fake contracts. At that fateful moment, a soldier’s chorus is heard, signaling the sudden return of the regiment. Fiordiligi and Dorabella panic and push the Albanians into an adjoining room. They are in complete disarray as Guglielmo and Ferrando reappear as their true selves. Of course, Guglielmo and Ferrando quickly discover and confiscate the mock contracts and berate their lover’s infidelity. They enter the room supposedly inhabited by the Albanians and come out sporting their exotic clothes to mock the women. At this point Don Alfonso mercifully steps in to explain all and make peace. Fiordiligi and Dorabella beg their fiancés for forgiveness. Even Despina is penitent. Guglielmo and Ferrando forgive their errant ladies, each vowing “Te lo credo, gioia bella, Ma la prova io far non vo” (“I believe you, my fair one, but I won’t put it to the test”). Peace, sense and moral order are restored to Naples, though some say no one knows for sure who reunites with whom.
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