Love, laughter, and games of the heart: Così fan tutte opens at Lyric on Sunday, February 1

 
CHICAGO (1/31/2026) — Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2025/26 season continues with Mozart’s sparkling romantic comedy Così fan tutte, on stage February 1 – 15, 2026.

Mozart’s most psychologically complex comedy comes to Lyric in a glamorous 1930s seaside setting where love becomes the ultimate experiment. Music Director Enrique Mazzola conducts a stellar ensemble led by rising stars Jacquelyn Stucker in her Lyric debut, Cecilia Molinari in her U.S. and Lyric debuts, Anthony León in his Lyric debut, and Ryan Opera Center alumnus Ian Rucker. They’re joined by longtime Lyric favorites Ana María Martínez and Rod Gilfry. Roy Rallo directs this stylish production, originally conceived by the late Michael Cavanagh.

We hope audiences can join us for this sun-soaked battle of the sexes — where matters of the heart rarely go according to plan. From sublime arias to razor-sharp wit to deep pathos, Così fan tutte proves that when it comes to love, everyone’s playing games.
 
View Così fan tutte images here
 
A high-resolution video trailer will be available soon on Lyric's YouTube channel and in Lyric's online press room.
 
Read the digital program book of Così fan tutte before the performance.
 
Performance dates for Così fan tutte are February 1 and 4 at 2:00 p.m.; February 7 at 7:30 p.m.; February 10 and 13 at 7:00 p.m; and February 15 at 2:00 p.m. All performances take place at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago.

Così fan tutte is performed in Italian, with easy-to-follow projected English titles above the stage.

A total running time of 3 hour and 30 minutes, including one intermission.
 
Audio description, a guided touch tour of the set, and SoundShirts are available at the Sunday, February 1 matinee performance. Braille and large-print programs, high-powered opera glasses, assistive listening devices, and booster seats are available from the theater’s Steiner Parquet coat checks at all performances. For more information on these and other accessibility assets, visit lyricopera.org/accessibility.
 
For information and tickets, call 312.827.5600 or go to lyricopera.org/cosi.
 

Lyric Opera's Season is presented by

Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline, United Airlines, and acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.

United Airlines
Illinois Arts Council

Sponsors

Lyric’s presentation of Mozart’s Così fan tutte is generously made possible by The Negaunee Foundation, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, The Julius Frankel Foundation, Randy L. & Melvin R.* Berlin, and Bulley & Andrews.

Maestro Enrique Mazzola is generously sponsored by Alice & John Butler, H. Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel, the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, Mary Stowell, and the Zell Family Foundation as members of the Enrique Circle.

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Chorus is generously sponsored by an Anonymous Lead Sponsor.

*deceased

About Lyric

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists—magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

Join us @LyricOpera on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and Facebook. #LongLivePassion

For more information on Lyric's upcoming 2024/25 Season, visit lyricopera.org/newseason.

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