Seattle Opera presents COSI FAN TUTTI

Seattle Opera steams up McCaw Hall this winter with a comedy about sex: Mozart's Così fan tutte! In this story, two sisters, Dorabella and Fiordiligi, are adored by their respective fiancés Ferrando and Guglielmo. But, when the two buddies decide to test the sisters' fidelity, the plot takes an unexpected turn: each man disguises himself and begins to woo the other's lover. Soon it becomes clear that everyone's feelings are much more complicated than any of them had thought.

Così is not only the third and final opera created by Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte-the two created The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni together. It's also their most thought-provoking piece, according to General Director Aidan Lang.

"With some of the most stirring music Mozart ever wrote, the composer communicates to us about our own human vulnerability; how fragile and tenuous relationships can be," Lang said. "Così indeed takes a cynical swipe at men and women, but it's this truth about human relationships that makes it such a pointed work of genius."

When this acclaimed production by Jonathan Miller premiered at McCaw Hall in 2006, it was written up as a performance that "may be the funniest and most dramatically successful show that Seattle Opera has ever staged" (The Seattle Times). This time around, the production will include debut performances by two of "opera's singing sisters"-Marina and Ginger Costa-Jackson: rising-star singers, real-life siblings, and performers who portray sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella in Così.

"Music is not only our career choice; it's who we are as a family," Marina Costa-Jackson said. "Our passion for opera is strongly connected to our mother, to our first language (Italian), and to our Italian-American heritage."

Singing opposite the Costa-Jacksons are internationally acclaimed Finnish soprano Marjukka Tepponen in her company debut as Fiordiligi, and Polish mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp as Dorabella (Isolier in Count Ory, '16). Così also includes the debut performances of tenors Tuomas Katajala and Ben Bliss, who star as Ferrando, and baritone Michael Adams, who alternates as Guglielmo with Craig Verm (Papageno in The Magic Flute, '17). Laura Tatulescu (Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, '16) returns as Despina, and Kevin Burdette (Masetto in Don Giovanni, '07) returns as Don Alfonso.

Finally, two British artists make their company debuts: Harry Fehr, Stage Director of Jonathan Miller's original production, and Maestro Paul Daniel. Bearing a long and impressive history with Seattle Opera, Associate Costume Designer Cynthia Savage, returns; along with lighting designer Neil Peter Jampolis.

Così fan tutte opens Saturday, Jan. 13, and runs through Saturday, Jan. 27. Tickets are available online at seattleopera.org, by calling 206-389-7676, or in-person at the box office located at 1020 John Street (two blocks west of Fairview). Box office hours are Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Groups save at least 20 percent: 206.676.5588 or groups@seattleopera.org.

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