Overture to Così fan tutte, K. 588
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Last SEKSO Performance: April 6th, 2003
Completed In: 1789
First Performed: the Burgtheater in Vienna - January, 1790
"Così fan tutte", rendered literally as "Thus [or "So] do all the women" and sometimes just rendered "Women are like that" was Mozart's last comic opera. The premise of the work however is one that can only ultimately end in tragedy - the age-old story of two men each wagering on the fidelity of their fiancé. It is a lighthearted look at human nature, though and if you throw in a bit of mistaken identity, defiant bravado and general confusion you have the overture of one of the world's most famous operas.
Maneuvering and intrigue was as common in the wings as it was on stage. Mozart was not overly fond of prima donna Adriana Ferrarese, the mistress of the librettist, and wrote an extremely difficult aria for her "Come scoglio". He hoped to make her look foolish before the audience. Everything 'wrong' was done, such as wild interval leaps and a range of over two octaves. Mozart's subtle humor is further expressed in the fact that the title, translated into "Like a Rock", speaks of the characters steadfast fidelity, but given to someone's mistress to perform. In spite of the difficulty, or perhaps because of it, the aria has become quite famous.
Scored for: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, and strings. [2222-2200-tmp-str]
