Così fan tutte (The Royal Opera 26/27)
Spurred on by a bet, two young men devise a plan to test their girlfriends’ loyalty. What follows is a dangerous game of seduction and power that drags the four lovers into a confusing world where reality is constantly shifting and the truth becomes increasingly uncertain.
Così fan tutte is still just as controversial today as it was when it first shocked audiences in 1790. For her debut on the main stage, Netia Jones, Associate Director of The Royal Opera, offers a fresh take on Mozart’s comedy of manners by examining it through a critical contemporary lens, in which 18th-century romantic intrigues are intertwined with highly satirical high-tech deception.
A sparkling young cast shines in the roles of the lovers, with Louise Alder, Simone McIntosh, Mingjie Lei, and Huw Montague Rendall in the leading roles, while Gerald Finley portrays the manipulative mastermind Don Alfonso and Emily Pogorelc takes on the role of Despina. Thomas Hengelbrock conducts, bringing out the full beauty of the melodies upon which this opera’s provocative and highly modern themes are based.