PSU Opera Presents: Cosi Fan Tutte

Romance, intrigue, trickery and a risky wager are at the heart of Mozart’s comical opera “Così fan tutte” (Italian for “They all do it”). In this darkly comedic opera buffo, presented by Portland State University’s award-winning opera program with Layna Chianakas as Stage Director, the cynical mastermind 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. With the help of the shrewd maid 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. Through the magic of Mozart’s sparkling score, combining sublime vocal ensembles with sharp comedy, the opera explores timeless questions about love, loyalty, and the unpredictability of the human heart.

Will the two young women remain faithful to their fiances, or will they be tricked into betraying them, revealing their all-too-human frailty? Join PSU Opera April 17 through 26 to find out!

Performances include a pre-performance lecture one hour prior and are accompanied by a full, live orchestra.