PSU Opera’s production of “Così fan tutte” takes audiences to a lush, mystical forest world populated by wizards, flower fairies and half-bloods, where anything can happen when one is under the spell of love.
“With this reimagining of ‘Così fan tutte,’ our stage director Layna Chianakas, the Jeannine B. Cowles Distinguished Professor in Residence, has created a new environment that feels more like Shakespeare's ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ than the aristocratic courts of the 18th century,” said Kelley Nassief, PSU Opera’s program director. “We remain true to the original libretto, but we have freshened up the storyline with a few delicious dramatic twists that render the show simply irresistible for our modern audiences.”
In PSU’s modern interpretation of “Così fan tutte” (which translates loosely to “women are like that”), the manipulative magician Don Alfonso makes a bet with two young men, Ferrando and Guglielmo, that their devoted fiancées, Dorabella and Fiordiligi, will prove unfaithful if temptation is put in their path. Fully believing in the women’s steadfast loyalty, the young men accept the bet, defending their fiancées. The next morning, they pretend to have been called off to war, only to return in disguise, each intending to seduce the other's lover. With the help of Despina, Don Alfonso manipulates the quartet in an elaborate deception, disguising the men as ardent suitors and orchestrating a series of hijinks that would weaken the resolve of even the truest love. At first, Dorabella and Fiordiligi cannot fathom such betrayal, but as the deception from Despina and Don Alfonso continues, the two women come to accept the idea of amusing themselves with the handsome strangers, seemingly proving the titular declaration. After catching the men in their deception, the sisters face a choice: will love win the day?
Read this article to learn more about the controversial history of "Così fan tutte," its exploration of love, power and human behavior, and the artists behind it, from composer and librettist to stage director and performers.
Cost:
General Admission $45
Seniors 65+ $30
Any Students $20
Group (10+) $40
Parking Information: www.pdx.edu/transportation/hourly-visitor-parking
Questions: music@pdx.edu; (503) 725-3011
Graphics by Bologna Sandwich and Jeff Hayes. Photos by Chad Lanning.