Expert Review: Mozart's Witty Masterpiece About Love And Human Nature

4.5
★★★★★

Expert Rating

The Verdict

Così fan tutte represents Mozart at his most sophisticated, combining sublime music with Lorenzo Da Ponte's witty exploration of love, fidelity, and human psychology. This London Coliseum production brings fresh insight to the eternal questions about relationships and faithfulness, while showcasing some of the most beautiful ensemble writing in all of opera. It's Mozart's most psychologically complex comedy.

What Makes It Special

  • Mozart's Musical Genius: Features some of opera's most beautiful ensembles and arias, with music that perfectly captures each character's emotional journey.
  • Psychological Sophistication: Goes beyond simple comedy to explore complex questions about love, desire, and human nature with remarkable insight.
  • English National Opera Excellence: World-class singers, orchestra, and production values bring this masterpiece to life with stunning artistry.
  • Timeless Themes: The opera's exploration of relationships, fidelity, and self-knowledge remains as relevant today as when it was written.

Perfect For

Opera enthusiasts, Mozart lovers, classical music fans, and theatre audiences who appreciate sophisticated comedy. Appeals to those who enjoy psychologically complex stories about relationships and human nature set to sublime music.

Everything You Need to Know

The Story of Così fan tutte

Set in 18th-century Naples, Così fan tutte tells the story of two young officers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, who are convinced their fiancées are completely faithful. The cynical philosopher Don Alfonso bets them that all women are unfaithful - "così fan tutte" (they all do it that way) - and devises a test to prove his point.

The Experiment

The men pretend to go to war but return in disguise as exotic foreigners, each attempting to seduce the other's fiancée. What begins as a simple test becomes increasingly complex as genuine emotions develop and the characters discover uncomfortable truths about themselves and their relationships.

The Characters

  • Fiordiligi: Dorabella's sister, initially steadfast in her loyalty but gradually tempted
  • Dorabella: More impulsive than her sister, quicker to succumb to temptation
  • Ferrando: Young officer, initially confident in his beloved's fidelity
  • Guglielmo: His friend and fellow officer, equally sure of his lover's faithfulness
  • Don Alfonso: Cynical philosopher who orchestrates the test
  • Despina: The sisters' maid, who aids the deception for her own amusement

The Resolution

The opera's ending is deliberately ambiguous, leaving audiences to ponder whether the characters have learned valuable lessons about love and human nature, or whether the damage to their relationships is irreparable.

Musical Highlights

  • "La mia Dorabella" - Ferrando's confident opening aria about his beloved's faithfulness
  • "Smanie implacabili" - Dorabella's dramatic lament when the men leave for war
  • "Come scoglio" - Fiordiligi's magnificent aria of resistance, one of opera's most challenging soprano pieces
  • "Un'aura amorosa" - Ferrando's beautiful aria about the power of love
  • "Per pietà, ben mio" - Fiordiligi's heart-wrenching aria as she struggles with temptation
  • "Donne mie, la fate a tanti" - Guglielmo's bitter aria about women's fickleness
  • "Soave sia il vento" - The sublime trio as the men depart, one of Mozart's most beautiful pieces

Musical Style: Mozart combines opera buffa (comic opera) traditions with psychological depth, creating music that is simultaneously entertaining and emotionally complex. The ensemble writing is particularly sophisticated, with characters often singing conflicting emotions simultaneously.

Practical Information

Performance Schedule

  • Opera seasons vary: Check ENO website for specific dates
  • Evening performances: Usually 7:00pm or 7:30pm
  • Matinee performances: Usually 2:00pm or 2:30pm
  • Duration: Approximately 3h 15min with two intervals

Getting There

  • Underground: Leicester Square (2 min walk) or Charing Cross
  • Buses: Multiple routes to Trafalgar Square and St Martin's Lane
  • Parking: Very limited - public transport strongly recommended

Theatre Information

  • Historic opera house opened in 1904
  • Capacity: 2,359 seats - London's largest theatre
  • Full accessibility with lifts and hearing loops
  • Dress code: Smart casual to formal (though more relaxed than some opera houses)
  • Multiple bars available throughout the building
  • Opera shop with recordings and merchandise

Language and Accessibility

  • Sung in: Italian
  • Surtitles: English translations displayed above stage
  • Audio described performances: Available for visually impaired patrons
  • Signed performances: Occasionally available

Age Guidance

Recommended for ages 12+ due to mature themes about infidelity, sexual desire, and relationship dynamics. While presented as comedy, the psychological complexity may be challenging for younger viewers.