"Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti (which means "Women are like that," or "The School for Lovers"), K. 588, is a comic opera in two acts written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was first performed on January 26, 1790, at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria. The story was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte, who also created the operas Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.

Although many people believe that Così fan tutte was written at the request of Emperor Joseph II, recent research does not support this idea. There is evidence that Mozart’s contemporary, Antonio Salieri, tried to write music for the same story but did not finish it. In 1994, a researcher named John Rice found two musical pieces called "terzetti" by Salieri in the Austrian National Library.

The short title Così fan tutte means "So do they all" in Italian. The phrase uses the word tutte (feminine plural) to refer to women. This line is sung by three men in Act 2, Scene 3, just before the final scene of the opera. This melody is also heard in the overture, or opening music, of the opera. Earlier, Lorenzo Da Ponte used the line "Così fan tutte le belle" in Le nozze di Figaro, in Act 1, Scene 7."

Performance history

The first performance of Mozart's opera took place at the Burgtheater in Vienna on January 26, 1790. It was performed only five times before the performances stopped due to the death of Emperor Joseph II and the following period of mourning. The opera was performed twice in June 1790, with Mozart conducting the second performance, and again in July (twice) and August (once). After that, it was not performed in Vienna during Mozart's lifetime. The first performance in Britain happened in May 1811 at the King's Theatre in London. Così fan tutte was not performed in the United States until 1922, when it was staged at the Metropolitan Opera.

According to William Mann, Mozart did not like Adriana Ferrarese del Bene, a leading singer and the arrogant mistress of the opera's librettist, Da Ponte. The role of Fiordiligi was created for her. Knowing her unusual habit of lowering her chin during low notes and raising her head during high notes, Mozart composed the aria "Come scoglio" with frequent shifts between low and high pitches. This was intended to make Ferrarese's head move up and down repeatedly during the performance.

The subject of the opera did not upset the sensibilities of Viennese audiences at the time. However, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was seen as inappropriate, offensive, and even immoral. Because of this, the opera was rarely performed, and when it was, it was often presented in edited versions that removed or softened some of its more controversial elements.

After World War II, the opera returned to the standard operatic repertoire and is now performed frequently. A comedic version titled Covid fan tutte, which uses other music by Mozart and depicts life during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, was produced by the Finnish National Opera in 2020.

Roles

Today, people often use modern voice categories to describe these roles. However, Mozart described these roles more generally, as shown earlier. Sometimes, performers use different voice types than expected. For example, Don Alfonso is sometimes sung by baritones like Thomas Allen, Bo Skovhus, and Thomas Hampson. Dorabella is almost always performed by a mezzo-soprano. Despina is occasionally performed by a mezzo-soprano, such as Cecilia Bartoli, Frederica von Stade, Agnes Baltsa, Ann Murray, and Ginger Costa-Jackson. Ferrando and Fiordiligi, however, must be sung by a tenor and a soprano because their roles require very high notes, which only these voice types can comfortably perform.

Instrumentation

The list of instruments used is as follows:

• Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons. In Fiordiligi's aria "Per pietà, ben mio, perdona" from Act 2, the music includes a rare use of clarinets in B-natural. The aria is written in E major, which changes to F major for the clarinet part, explaining the use of B-natural clarinets. Most modern editions adjust this to A clarinets, but the NMA keeps the original notation for B-natural clarinets. Some parts of the clarinet music may have been intended for basset clarinets because of their ability to play lower notes.
• Brass: 2 horns, 2 trumpets.
• Percussion: 2 timpani. An additional military drum is used on stage.
• Strings: first violins, second violins, violas, violoncellos, double basses.
• Basso continuo: Harpsichord and violoncello are used for the secco recitatives.

Synopsis

Mozart and Da Ponte used the idea of "fiancée swapping," a theme that started in the 13th century. Earlier versions of this idea appear in Boccaccio’s Decameron and Shakespeare’s play Cymbeline. The story also includes elements from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew. It also draws from the myth of Procris, found in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, vii.

In a café, Ferrando and Guglielmo (two officers) believe their fiancées, Dorabella and Fiordiligi, will always be faithful. Don Alfonso disagrees, saying no woman is truly faithful. He bets the officers that he can prove their fiancées will not remain loyal. The officers agree to pretend they are called to war. Later, they return in disguise and try to seduce each other’s fiancées.

The scene shifts to the two women, who praise their men. Alfonso announces the officers have been called to war. The officers arrive, heartbroken, and say goodbye. As the men leave on a boat, Alfonso and the women wish them safe travel. Alfonso predicts the women will prove unfaithful.

Despina, the maid, asks what is wrong. Dorabella says she is suffering from being alone. Despina mocks the sisters, telling them to find new lovers while their fiancées are away. Alfonso bribes Despina to help him win the bet. The officers return as disguised Albanians. The sisters are shocked to see strange men in their home. The "Albanians" claim they came to love the sisters, but the sisters refuse to give in. Fiordiligi says she will stay faithful. The "Albanians" try to win the sisters’ hearts, but fail. Ferrando praises his love alone.

The sisters still miss their fiancées. Despina asks Alfonso to let her take over the plan. The "Albanians" threaten to poison themselves if they cannot woo the sisters. They drink "poison" and pretend to pass out. A "doctor" (Despina in disguise) arrives and revives them using magnet therapy. The men, pretending to hallucinate, demand kisses from the sisters, who refuse.

Despina urges the sisters to accept the "Albanians." After she leaves, Dorabella admits she is tempted. She and Fiordiligi agree a small flirtation might be harmless. Dorabella and Guglielmo (in disguise) pair off, as do Ferrando and Fiordiligi. Ferrando leaves, and Guglielmo tries to win Dorabella’s heart. She gives him a medallion with Ferrando’s portrait in exchange for a locket. Ferrando fails to win Fiordiligi’s heart and is upset when he learns the medallion was given away. Guglielmo first feels sorry for Ferrando but then celebrates because his fiancée is faithful.

Dorabella confesses to Fiordiligi that she acted improperly. Fiordiligi decides to find her fiancée but is stopped by Ferrando, who tries to seduce her again. Fiordiligi finally gives in and embraces Ferrando. Guglielmo is upset, and Ferrando turns Guglielmo’s earlier celebration back on him. Alfonso, the winner of the bet, tells the men to forgive their fiancées. He says, "Così fan tutte" ("All women are like that").

The scene begins with a double wedding for the sisters and their "Albanian" grooms. Despina, disguised as a notary, presents a marriage contract signed only by the women. The men know this is a fake wedding and are pretending to teach the women a lesson. Soon, military music is heard, signaling the officers’ return. Alfonso confirms the officers are coming. The "Albanians" hide to change out of their disguises. They return as officers and profess their love. Alfonso drops the fake marriage contract in front of the officers, who are angry. The officers return moments later, partly in Albanian disguise and partly as officers. Despina is revealed as the notary, and the sisters realize they were tricked. Everyone forgives each other, praising the ability to accept life’s good and bad times.