Così Fan Tutte

Written by Kaila Gatti & Charlie Bliwas

Cosí Fan Tutte (“They’re All the Same”) is an opera about love, lust, and loss. The opera revolves around two sisters, their maid, two best friends, and the richest man in their village. In the beginning of the show, the two friends Ferando and Guilielmo are enamored with two sisters, Dorabella and Fiordiligi. Meanwhile, the girls’ maid, Despina, is fed up with cooking and cleaning for the girls. The richest man in the village, Don Alfonso, thinking he can control the lovers, makes a bet with Despina saying they could make the girls cheat on their fiances. 

The opera premiered in 1790 in Vienna, Austria. The IAA Classical Voice department used the popular Netflix show Bridgerton as inspiration for Mozart's famous opera. Placing the opera in this society shows the class divide which is essential to understanding the plot of Cosí Fan Tutte. Do the girls stay loyal? Or are all women the same? 

The title of the show is in reference to women and the assumptions made about them at the time. This is undoubtedly an archaic and patriarchal way of viewing women’s loyalty. Dr. Laura Osgood Brown, Opera Director and proud feminist, took matters into her own hands. Dr. Brown chose to gender bend Don Alfonso to make him Donna Alfonso. She did this to make the audience question, are all women truly the same? Or are all young people the same when they're sick in love?

Alejandra Gaspar-Hulbert, a senior Classical Voice major who portrayed Fiordiligi on the Friday night performance, gushed over the process: “Most of the things we do at Interlochen we will do in the future. We learn that everything has to be ready by the first rehearsal.” She went on to say, “It was really nice to see it come together.”

And the project certainly went out with a bang. Full of humor, passion, and funny bits, this opera was a very moving piece and a lovely conclusion to the end of the year.