ASU School of Music’s Lyric Opera Theatre presents Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte

WHAT: Lyric Opera Theatre in the Herberger College of Fine Arts at ASU presents Cosi Fan Tutte, regarded by many critics as Mozart’s greatest opera, mines the rich question of identity.

WHEN: February. 22, 23, 24, March 1, 2, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.; March 3 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Evelyn Smith Music Theatre, Music Building, 40 East Gammage Parkway, Tempe

TICKETS: $14 general, $12 faculty/staff/seniors, $5 students

INFORMATION, TICKETS: 480-965-6447

Can human beings stay true to themselves, or are they helpless, at the mercy of fate and changing circumstances? Find out the answer when the award-winning Lyric Opera Theatre presents Cosi Fan Tutte, Ossia la Scuola Degli Amanti (All Women Behave That Way or The School for Lovers).

“Working on Cosi Fan Tutte has been both a joy and a challenge,” says Dale Dreyfoos, stage director of the production and associate director of Lyric Opera Theatre in the Herberger College School of Music at ASU. “The music is some of the most beautiful Mozart ever wrote (most particularly the trio, “Soave sia il vento,” in the first act), while the story, itself, has been a source of controversy ever since it’s premiere in 1789.” The deeply personal comedy illustrates what happens when two men test the faithfulness of their fiancées, two beautiful sisters, by each trying to seduce the other’s sweetheart, and succeeding.

“Given the timeless nature of this story of human frailty, I’ve updated it to the end of the Victorian era, which allows for the same sense of elegance as the original time period (the end of the 18th century), but lets us have a little more fun and freedom with the stage action to give more of an “outdoor/summertime” feeling to the show,” explains Dreyfoos. “As in all my 
work, the musical structure of the piece needs to be reflected in the on-stage action, which in this case, requires a lot of “choreographed” action to give a sense of balance and symmetry so that what you see matches what you hear.

This particular production of Cosi Fan Tutte is double cast in all roles, except for the role of Ferrando. “While this makes the rehearsal process a lot more challenging, it gives more students the opportunity to perform major roles,” says Dreyfoos. “Given the delightful nature of the piece, we have had a wonderful time rehearsing the show – and hope that the audience has as much fun watching it as we have had putting it together.”

Cosi Fan Tutte met with immediate success when it premiered in January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna. It is the most frequently adapted and rewritten of Mozart’s operas. More than 30 German versions are recorded.

Brennan, with The Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts, can be reached at (480) 965-3587 or (mary.brennan@asu.edu). 

Media Contact:
Mary Brennan
480-965-3587
mary.brennan@asu.edu