“Passeggiamo anche noi… Il core vi dono”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Così fan tutte, “Passeggiamo anche noi…Il core vi dono”

Kathleen Felty, mezzo-soprano (Dorabella); Leroy Davis, baritone (Guglielmo)

Così fan tutte (1790), translatable as Thus Do All Women, was the last of three glorious collaborations between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) and the greatest of all Italian librettists of the eighteenth century, Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838). Prior to this work, the duo had already given the world two masterpieces, The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni. Così is, in a way, the cruelest of the three, as regards its treatment of women. Not that the same can’t to a certain extent be said of Don Giovanni, but the trickery of the men and the emotional manipulation in Così can hit very hard—that is, if the work is treated seriously, which wasn’t always the case. It was played very much for laughs until about 40 years ago, when directors began to reassess the work and understand exactly what lay beneath the comic elements.

Musically speaking, this opera is certainly on the same level as the other two Mozart/Da Ponte works. Charm is evident everywhere—for example, in the ravishing baritone/mezzo duet midway in Act Two, in which sweetness and elegance are the keynote throughout. Guglielmo and his fellow officer, Ferrando, have agreed to a bet with the cynical philosopher Don Alfonso, who believes that the young men’s fiancées, Fiordiligi and Dorabella (who are sisters), can’t remain faithful for 24 hours. The men go off to battle, but then return in disguise. Each proceeds to woo the other’s beloved. Once Guglielmo is alone with Dorabella in the garden of the sisters’ home, it doesn’t take much effort on his part for her to fall for him. When, at his ardent request, she closes her eyes, he gently removes the locket around her neck containing Ferrando’s portrait, replacing it with a new necklace containing a heart. When Dorabella opens her eyes, she and Guglielmo  declare delightedly to each other, “What a happy exchange!” before going off together.

*** Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

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About the Ryan Opera Center

About the Ryan Opera Center

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is Lyric's preeminent artist-development program that nurtures the talents of some of the most promising operatic singers and pianists of each generation. The program's Ensemble members earn their coveted spot by successfully auditioning among more than 400 artists worldwide. Its alumni are among the dominant names in opera today. Donor generosity ensures continued unparalleled training, performance experience, and professional readiness of Ensemble members. This highly competitive program, established in 1974, is honored to enjoy the support of acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming as Advisor, along with full-time staff Director Dan Novak, Music Director Craig Terry, and Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner.

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Photos: Kyle Flubacker