Portland Opera to present COSI FAN TUTTI on 7/14

Portland Opera will present Mozart's witty and comic opera, Cosi fan tutte, at the Newmark Theatre on Friday, July 14. Stage Director Roy Rallo has created a fresh interpretation of what many say is Mozart's wisest Italian comic opera. The production features imaginative video to portray this timeless comic drama about the questions of fidelity, infidelity and forgiveness.

"Mozart's Cos? fan tutte is a deeply insightful look at relationships. His understanding of the human heart, and his ability to communicate that through music, is a profound aspect of Mozart's genius," said Christopher Mattaliano, Portland Opera General Director.

Cos? fan tutte starts with a simple bet that puts love to the test. Two young men, Ferrando and Guglielmo, brag about the virtues of their fiancées, sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. A skeptical friend wagers that the women's faithfulness won't withstand a day of the men's absence. The suitors accept the bet and agree to disguise themselves and woo each other's brides-to-be. But what begins as a lighthearted deception ends on a bittersweet note when the women fall for the "impostors." Although Cosi fan tutte is a sparkling satire on the surface, it reveals some disturbing truths about love and the heartbreak that can happen when a joke goes too far.

Returning to Portland Opera after the critically acclaimed production of The Rake's Progress (2015) is Director Roy Rallo. Video Designer Paul Clay will make his Portland Opera debut engaging the audience with multimedia projections using 3-D, renderings, and photography.

The four starring roles will be performed by Portland Opera Resident Artists. Kate Farrar (mezzo-soprano) and Antonia Tamer (soprano) assume the roles of Dorabella and Fiordiligi, respectively, and singing opposite these characters are Ryan Thorn (baritone) as Guglielmo and Aaron Short, (tenor) as Ferrando.

Cosi fan tutte is sung in Italian with supertitles in English above the
stage.