De Nationale Opera presenteert
Mozart’s experiment in love
Così fan tutte tells the story of four young lovers, set in the tumult of a holiday resort. As the plot unfolds, twists reminiscent of reality soaps arise, with some harsh lessons for the lovers.
Plot Così fan tutte
Two young couples are on the cusp of adulthood but still inexperienced in the ways of the world and unsure of the boundaries between what is real and what is fantasy. Enter the world of the hardened cynic Alfonso, who tempts Guglielmo and Ferrando into a wager over the fidelity of their respective sweethearts, Fiordiligi and Dorabella.
The depths of love
The libretto is by Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838), with whom Mozart also collaborated successfully on Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni. Così fan tutti is the only one not based on an existing work, though Da Ponte borrowed inspiration from diverse sources. With its declarative title ‘Women are like that’, this ‘reality soap’ opera nevertheless also casts a critical eye at the conduct of its male characters, and seduces with witty banter and amusing ironies while plumbing the depths of romantic love. This production of Così fan tutte premièred in 2006 as the first instalment of a Mozart-Da Ponte trilogy directed by Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito.
Team and cast
Conductor Ivor Bolton
Bolton: ‘Every time I return to a work I’ve conducted before, I build on past experience and take new risks. If I’m successful, the work grows with every performance. But never to perfection – which is good, because otherwise my job would be very dull.’
Ivor Bolton started out as a harpsichordist and began conducting later, specialising in the eighteenth and early nineteenth-century repertoire. He made his debut at Dutch National Opera with an older production of Così fan tutte (1997) and has been a frequent guest since then, most recently conducting The Rake’s Progress.
Cast of Così fan tutte
Bursting with youthful energy, the cast of stellar singers and actors features DNO debuts by Angela Brower as Dorabella and Sebastian Kohlhepp as Ferrando. The other vocalists are familiar faces at DNO, including beloved Dutch baritone Thomas Oliemans (as Don Alfonso).

Jossi Wieler
RegisseurThe Swiss JOSSI WIELER (direction and dramaturgy) studied direction at Tel Aviv university.

Sergio Morabito
RegisseurThe German-Italian SERGIO MORABITO (direction and dramaturgy) studied applied theater science at University Gieben.

Ivor Bolton
ConductorIVOR BOLTON (musical director) had great success for many years as a harpsichord player, before making the transition to conducting.
Così fan tutte
'Dramma giocoso' in 2 acts
Libretto
Lorenzo da Ponte
World premiere
26 January 1790
National-Hoftheater Vienna
Team, Cast en Koor
- Conductor
- Ivor Bolton
- Stage Directors and Dramaturgy
- Jossi Wieler
Sergio Morabito - Set Designer
- Barbara Ehnes
- Costume Designer
- Anja Rabes
- Lighting Designer
- David Finn
- Orchestra
- Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
- Chorus
- Chorus of Dutch National Opera
- Chorus Master
- Ching-Lien Wu
- Fiordiligi
- Anett Fritsch
- Dorabella
- Angela Brower
- Despina
- Sophia Burgos
- Guglielmo
- Davide Luciano
- Ferrando
- Sebastian Kohlhepp
- Don Alfonso
- Thomas Oliemans
Orchestra
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra has been the principal partner of Dutch National Opera for more than 30 years and is among the world's best opera orchestras.The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is the orchestra’s primary venue. Besides programmes led by chief conductor Marc Albrecht and Gordan Nicolic (musical director of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra), it also has various collaborations with internationally renowned guest conductors and soloists, as well as budding stars of the next generation of musicians. The orchestra seeks to make the classical repertoire accessible to everyone, performing not only in concert halls but also a range of unusual and more adventurous venues. By bringing people together through music, the orchestra creates beautiful and memorable musical experiences for all, from classical aficionados to new audiences.
With its home base in the NedPhO-Koepel, a former church in Amsterdam's culturally diverse Indische Buurt, the orchestra plays a vital role in the community. Each year it organises some two hundred activities around music education, neighbourhood participation and talent development.
In the 2019-2020 season, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is playing in the DNO productions of Pagliacci I Cavalleria rusticana, Die Walküre, Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny and Die Frau ohne Schatten. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra is playing in Così fan tutte and La Cenerentola.
Chorus
Chorus of Dutch National Opera
Dutch National Opera's own chorus consists of 50 singers, regularly augmented with freelance members for large productions. The Chorus has an impressive record with milestones including opera productions of Saint Francois d’Assise, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Ercole amante, Boris Godoenov, La Juive, Les Troyens, Eugene Onegin, Parsifal, Guillaume Tell, The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, Faust, La forza del destino, Das Flos der Medusa, Oedipe and Tannhauser, and concerts of Der fliegende Hollander in Rotterdam, Paris and Dortmund and Daphnis et Chloe with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. Under the artistic direction of Ching-Lien Wu since 1 September 2014, in 2016 the authoritative Opernwelt magazine named the DNO Chorus the Best Opera Chorus of the year. In the 2019-2020 season the Chorus is singing in Pagliacci |Cavalleria rusticana, Così fan tutte, La Cenerentola, Nabucco, Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Carmen and Rusalka.
FOYER EVENING
mo 16 September Così fan tutte
Musical evening giving an accessible, in-depth explanation of operas and ballets.
NB: In principle, the foyer evenings are given in Dutch, but in practice the high number of international guests means that English is often spoken as well.
IN SHORT
Step into the world of the makers. Sit back with a drink in an informal setting and enjoy an aria or duet, a pas de deux or small ensemble, or an interview with a singer or choreographer. A varied programme, linked to a topical theme, is presented for each production.
ADMISSION
The evening begins at 20.00 and lasts around an hour and a quarter. The bar will stay open afterwards.
Regular - € 10
Students - € 7.50
Free for Giving Circle members of Dutch National Opera, Dutch National Ballet and Dutch National Opera & Ballet
Prices are exclusive of booking charges. Tickets for performances can be purchased separately
‘This Così is so entertaining, comical and minutely detailed’ [...] ‘Unique concept and in many ways completely unlike the customary staging […].’
‘Wieler-Morabito’s sophisticated staging, fast-paced and dynamic, guarantees you’ll never be bored during the four-hour Così fan tutte […].’