453-473). These unstable foundations, emotion, are conquered by emotion. repertoire: Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte. Buy Tickets. Così fan tutte has implications far beyond the 'School for Lovers' and the 'All Women do it' of its titles. Thus, the circumstances have been set for the moral and philosophical experiment undertaken in Così fan tutte. (Translation below from Brown-Montesano, 2007, p.240). Alfonso then arrives with Ferrando and Guglielmo disguised as Albanians who claim their hearts led them to the sisters. Così fan tutte is one of three operas—the others are The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni —that Mozart wrote with Da Ponte. The opera premiered on 26th January 1790 to a positive reception by Viennese audiences (Whitfield, 2011, p.23). 15 in D Minor K. 421 – I. (Ed.) Thus, Mozart’s input into the libretto may have been less significant than Mozart and Da Ponte’s earlier collaborations. Eighteenth-Century Music, 4 (2), 301-305. Lösel (2017) concludes that Così fan tutte points towards the fundamental ineffectiveness of the Enlightenment regarding interpersonal morality. The sisters finally realise they have been fooled. He had written only 4 major works in 1789, the year prior to the premiere of this opera (Steptoe, 1988, p.71). One may infer from this that the basis behind Fiordiligi’s conviction is flawed. From the 17th-19th centuries, social interactions moved from the tavern to the coffee house. Learn But the women are determined to stay true to their men and the men's plan looks doomed, even with Despina’s, who is in on it, rather dramatic intervention. Mozart: Così fan tutte, K. 588. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. In need of God: Mozart, faith, and Così fan tutte. These leaps, accompanied by an altered descending Fonte sequence (Gjerdingen, 2007), are redolent of the ‘Empfindsamkeit’ topic (Ratner, 1980). These words are initially set by leaps of octaves and tenths in a sequence of descending thirds. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Mozart: Così fan tutte - Gustav Kuhn on AllMusic - 1991 Coffee, chocolate (which was “considered a potent aphrodisiac” (Gazzola, 2015, p.118)), poison and wine all induce – to the 18th century audience – behavioural and emotional changes. (2013). Table 1 shows three numbers and their associated key and degree of sincerity: Mozart frequently uses word painting of Da Ponte’s libretto throughout Così fan tutte. Wir empfehlen es für Schüler ab der Jahrgangsstufe 10. Oktober 2020 im Stream (Renate Wagner) Nachdem arte darauf gekommen ist, dass Österreich zu Europa gehört, was bei der Live-Übertragung der Premiere („Kann in ihrem Land nicht empfangen werden“ – warum? The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Don Alfonso and Despina teach in the manner of the “Rousseauist programme of education” (Till, 1995, p.240). Furthermore, this setting would allow “noble officers” to speak openly with the old philosopher, Don Alfonso, who is someone of “doubtful background” (Lütteken, 2009, p.236). Despite the magnificent music, it is easy to dismiss Così fan tutte as a heedless romp. Così fan tutte is one of the three Mozart operas for which Da Ponte wrote the libretto. One may interpret this virtuosic display as full conviction of her sentiment, engaging her emotion and physical body to be as one in delivering the text. Berlin: Decca. Hunter, M. (2014). His magnetic fluid treatment gained much popularity during 1774-1784 until the leading scientists of the day (including Benjamin Franklin) were royally commissioned to investigate Mesmer’s cure. New York: Oxford University Press. Mozart, W. A., & Rietz, J., Waldersee, P., Wilder, V., Wüllner, F. (1881). Unbeknown to Dorabella and Fiordiligi, the men will return in disguise to try and seduce each other’s fiancée. Lütteken’s (2009, p.241) interpretation is that of a reimagining of the role that reason should play, it cannot function as a salvation, but rather, as “a mere emergency anchor that protects man from the worst”. Therefore, the quintet’s content is framed in a key which delegitimizes, or at least questions, the earnestness of those characters’ motivations. Guglielmo is rather chuffed and gloats at his fiancé’s faithfulness. Pictured: The Royal Opera House production of Cosi Fan Tutti at the Shaftesbury theatre, London, 1998. Dorabella and Fiordiligi are horrified by the men’s confession and order them to leave. Pictured:Pictured: William Shimell (playing Alfonso) and French baritone Edwin Crossley-Mercer (playing Guglielmo) perform as part of Aix-en-Provence international lyric arts festival, 2008. Retrieved from https://www.opera-arias.com/mozart/cosi-fan-tutte/sento-o-dio-che-questo-piede/. As with many of Mozart’s operas, he uses tonality for symbolic and illustrative purposes. That ordering, Mozart’s music depicting Da Ponte’s libretto, was due to Mozart being second choice for Da Ponte. Così fan tutte was composed during somewhat of a compositional drought for Mozart.He had written only 4 major works in 1789, the year prior to the premiere of this opera (Steptoe, 1988, p.71). However, insight into the philosophical context in which the opera was constructed and the relationships between music and drama sheds light on the merits of this opera. Of these works, only Così fan tutte is not based on a distinct predecessor. Donne mie la fate a tanti. It is only Don Alfonso, the “chaperon”, who can instigate a change towards the dominant pedal point (Brown-Montesano, 2007, p.222). More commonly shorted to Cosi fan tutte, which can be loosely translated as “they’re (women) all like that”. The feigned departure of Ferrando and Guglielmo, their subsequent return in disguise and the success of the seduction may have been sourced from Ovid’s Cephalus and Procris from Metamorphoses (p.125). Topics and opera buffa. Meanwhile Ferrando is less successful with Fiordiligi and is furious when he discovers Dorabella betrayed him by giving him the medallion. She scoffs at Dorabella’s heartbroken reply, telling the sisters to take new lovers while their fiancés are away. Music & Letters, 67 (3), 248-255. About “Così fan tutte” “Così fan tutte” Q&A. The women, accompanied by Alfonso, wave the men off as they set sail to "war" with Soave sia il vento—"May the wind be gentle". Così fan tutte, Italian in full Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti (“Thus Do They All, or the School for Lovers”; often translated as “All Women Do the Same”), comic opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that premiered in Vienna on January 26, 1790. 1. Farce invraisemblable, fable philosophique sur l’amour, tragi-comédie romantique et désespérée, Cosi fan tutte est tout cela… et plus. Steptoe even describes Così fan tutte as an “ensemble opera” (p.212), only 14 out of 31 numbers were arias. Topics and tonal processes. August 2020 hatte Mozarts "Così fan tutte" bei den Salzburger Festspielen in der Inszenierung von Christof Loy Premiere. Pictured: Mozart's masterpiece Cosi fan tutte is billed as a comedy, but it often leaves romantically inclined listeners feeling just a little bit queasy. Zusätzlich zum Besuch der Vorstellung bieten wir Ihnen The Oxford Handbook of topic theory (pp. Pictured: Soprano Sofia Soloviy (playing Fiordiligi), Dutch soprano Judith van Wanroij (playing Despina) and mezzosoprano Janja Vuletic (playing Dorabella) perform at the Aix-en-Provence international lyric arts festival, 2008. Ratner, L.G. Mozart and the enlightenment: Truth, virtue and beauty in Mozart’s operas. Camille Saint-Saens Tenor Finnur Bjarnason (playing Ferrando), soprano Sofia Soloviy (Fiordiligi), soprano Judith van Wanroij (Despina), baritone William Shimell (Alfonso), mezzosopano Janja Vuletic (Dorabella) and baritone Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Guglielmo) perform at the Aix-en-Provence international lyric arts festival, 2008. Il mio labbro palpitante                      Non può detto pronunziar. Così fan tutte is one of the three Mozart operas for which Da Ponte wrote the libretto. 15 in D Minor K. 421 - I. California: University of California Press. [CD]. Word painting emerges initially in Fiordiligi’s aria. 15. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. The lovers are in the “pre-rational stage in their moral development” and can only be taught effectively through practical experience which, according to Rousseau, “precedes instruction” (p.241). In turn, this may mitigate the proclivity to inflict emotional pain upon the self and the other. Despite Fiordiligi’s sentiment and proclamation of being “Like the immovable rock that stands against the winds and storms” Mozart sets her words through much technically demanding melisma with wide leaps. This is followed by a shift towards shorter note values with melismatic and cadenza-like virtuosic displays (as can be seen in the cadence which concludes this quatrain on the words “affetto il core”). This essay is an overview and analysis of Mozart's opera "Cosi fan tutte" which means, "Women are like that." Instead, its plot was drawn from a hodgepodge of Classical and more recent literary material that all dealt with the trope of the testing of a lover’s fidelity. Further musical depictions of the text are that of Guglielmo’s and Ferrando’s initial lines (unless stated otherwise, translations have been taken from Opera-Arias, 2019): Mozart illustrates these sentiments in martial music and through the tonic pedal point (Steptoe, 1988, p.217). Am 2. It is only when Ferrando and Guglielmo use “pity” (Act 1 finale) and “ardour” (Act 2), rather than their earlier attempts through “exotic wealth and glamour”, that they are successful in their seduction (Steptoe, 1988, p.128). Share on Facebook; Share on Twitter; Share Sometimes the saucy, clever maid knows more about men and love than her aristocratic, sophisticated employers. Mr. Verzatt is pouring 40 years of character knowledge into these insights. 6am - 9am, Danse Macabre Opus 40 The use of a fanfare topic is in accordance with the libretto: These martial words from Guglielmo elicit musical description by Mozart. Negating opera through opera: Così fan tutte and the reverse of the enlightenment. Mozart, mesmer and ‘Così fan tutte’. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Così fan tutte has implications far beyond the 'School for Lovers' and the 'All Women do it' of its titles. The play depicts the life of Lewis, a director in a mental institution, and shows the strengths he must go to in order to be accepted. Set in Arcadian verse, the opening words are stately with comparatively small leaps and conventional note values. Mozart's masterpiece Cosi fan tutte is billed as a comedy, but it often leaves romantically inclined listeners feeling just a little bit queasy. to change the affections of our hearts. Così fan tutte. Essay by Genii, University, Bachelor's, A+, May 2002 . Till notes that this experiment is a test of “the Enlightenment’s vision of a world held together by some form of purely secular morality” (p.236). Pictured: Così fan tutte ist ein unterhaltender und zugleich tiefgründiger Opernbesuch. The two pairs of idealistic, chivalrous, naïve lovers, and the two rational, materialist puppeteers (in the sense of controlling or forwarding the drama), Don Alfonso and Despina (Steptoe, 1988, p.131). (1980). It is notable that the most frequently recurring word in this aria through repetition, is “a tanti” (“so many”). New York: Schirmer Books. Alfonso breaks the news of their fiancés departure to war to Dorabella and Fiordiligi and the lovers bid a tearful farewell. (1986). Rather than resolving onto the dominant, B-flat, Mozart moves to the chord of G-flat, thus modulating to the dominant minor (in relation to the home key), B-flat minor. Mozart on the stage. It speaks, existentially, of the randomness of life, the fickleness of affection, the brevity of happiness. Pictured: Classic music: expression, form, and style. The musico-dramatic relationship of this quintet is explicit.