Come out to see a Mozart classic with an interesting twist and a 1950s American charm.
The Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture is showcasing “Cosi fan tutte” live in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
The performance will be shown on April 7.
The opera will begin promptly at 12:55 p.m., with doors opening at 12:30 p.m.
The opera has a total run time of 3 hours and 31 minutes with a single 30-minute intermission.
“Cosi fan tutte” was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The librettist for this opera is Lorenzo Da Ponte.
Da Ponte and Mozart had worked together to write three different operas.
This opera was originally set in Naples, a major tourist destination in the 18th century.
Mozart used multiple woodwind scores to make the audience feel like they were on a breezy seashore.
For this opera, the director chose to make a bold discussion and changed the time and place that the opera took place. Phelim McDermott chose to set “Cosi fan tutte” in the carnival-esque environment of 1950s Coney Island.
The setting will have fire eaters, bearded ladies and a Ferris wheel.
Because of the setting change, this opera is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness and enjoy.
Military officers Ferrando and Guglielmo are on vacation with their fiancees, Dorabella and Fiordiligi.
The men meet Don Alfonso, and they engage in a bet that Alfonso can prove that their fiancees will be unfaithful.
The officers accept the challenge.
The story unfolds from there.
You will have to come see the opera to know if the women stay faithful to their fiances.
The conductor of the opera is David Robertson.
The opera features an all-star cast, with Amanda Majeski as Fiordiligi, Serena Malfi as Dorabella and Espina as Kelli O’Hara.
Ben Bliss plays Ferrando, Adam Plachetka plays Guglielmo and Christopher Maltman is cast as Alfonso.
As always, tickets are free for Mercyhurst students, $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students of other institutions, and $10 for youth.