WBO
52nd Season
2007–2008
Così fan tutte
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
Cosi

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Conductor: Barbara Day Turner, Director: Douglas Nagel
Set Design: Jean-François Revon, Costume Design: Beth Gilroy, Lighting Design: Robert Anderson

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Act I
The Bet Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis) tries to convince Ferrando (Jorge Garza) and Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst) that female fidelity is a myth; people talk about it but no one has actually seen it.
Toast Ferrando (Brian Thorsett) and Guglielmo (Igor Vieira) bet Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) 100 zecchini that their sweethearts will remain faithful, and the wager is sealed with a toast to love.
Heads Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) and Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) compare the ideal qualities of their lovers.
Plotting Despina (Elisabeth Russ) tells Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) that an old man like him can’t do anything for a young girl like her.
Bribe Despina (Marta Johansen) changes her attitude when Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis) offers monetary compensation.
Called to Battle Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) breaks the news to Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) and Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) that Ferrando and Guglielmo have been called to battle.
Fairwell Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) observes as Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) and Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) beg Ferrando (Brian Thorsett) and Guglielmo (Igor Vieira) not to desert them.
Servants Encouraged by Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis), the townspeople describe the exciting life of a soldier.
Quintet Ferrando (Brian Thorsett), Don Alfonso (Peter Graham), and Guglielmo (Igor Vieira) try to conceal their amusement as Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) and Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) struggle to control their sorrow.
Waving Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne), Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis), and Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) wave as the soldiers sail away.
Albanians Arrive Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) and Despina (Elisabeth Russ) consider how to introduce the two Albanians, Sempronio (Brian Thorsett) and Tizio (Igor Vieira), to the sisters.
Albanians Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst) and Ferrando (Jorge Garza) are confident that their true loves will not be swayed by even exotic Albanian disguises.
Attraction Ferrando (Jorge Garza) and Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst), disguised as Albanians, declare their love to Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) and Dorabella (Sally Mouzon).
Overwhelmed Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) and Despina (Elisabeth Russ) observe as the Albanians, Tizio (Igor Vieira) and Sempronio (Brian Thorsett) beg the overwhelmed sisters (Meghan Dibble and Rebecca Schuessler) to consider their whole package: good feet, fine eyes, nice noses, magnificent mustaches.
Albanians When the sisters order them to leave, Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst) and Ferrando (Jorge Garza) laugh in triumph, confident in the fidelity of their sweethearts.
Poisoned Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) and Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) are horrified when Sempronio (Jorge Garza) and Tizio (Sascha Joggerst) vow to take poison since the sisters refuse to love them. Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis) watches his plot evolve.
Dying Don Alfonso (Peter Graham) tries to comfort Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) and Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) who are convinced that the Albanians (Brian Thorsett and Igor Vieira) are dying.
Doctor Despina (Elisabeth Russ), disguised as a doctor, uses Dr. Mesmer’s new magnetic treatment to draw the poison from a suffering Albanian (Brian Thorsett).
Revived Sempronio (Jorge Garza) and Tizio (Sascha Joggerst) beg Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) and Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) for a kiss in celebration of their revival, but the sisters refuse. Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis) watches his plot evolve.


Act II
Flirting Lesson Despina (Marta Johansen) explains to Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) and Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) that a woman must know how to charm, smile, cry, and concoct excuses.
Blond One Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) admits that she would enjoy teasing the blond Albanian while Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) declares a preference for the wittier dark one.
Albanians The Albanians (Igor Vieira and Brian Thorsett) arrive for the rendezvous with the sisters.
Shy Too shy to speak for themselves, Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) and Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) let Despina (Marta Johansen) do the talking for them.
Heart Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) gives her heart to the passionate dark Albanian (Igor Vieira).
Sword Disturbed by her growing attraction to the blond Albanian (Jorge Garza), Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) takes up Ferrando’s sword and prepares to follow him into battle.
Capitulation Her resolve melting, Fiordiligi Rebecca Schuessler) submits to the ardor of the blond Albanian (Brian Thorsett).
Wedding Despina (Elisabeth Russ) organizes the wedding.
Wedding Tizio (Igor Vieira), Dorabella (Meghan Dibble), Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler), and Sempronio (Brian Thorsett) drink a wedding toast.
Notary Disguised as a notary, Despina (Elisabeth Russ) prepares the wedding contract for Tizio (Igor Vieira), Dorabella (Meghan Dibble), Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler), and Sempronio (Brian Thorsett).
Caught Guglielmo (Igor Vieira) and Ferrando (Brian Thorsett) enjoy seeing Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) and Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) petrified by shock when they hear the drums announcing the return of the soldiers from battle.
Soldiers Return As Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis) greets the returning soldiers (Jorge Garza and Sascha Joggerst), Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) and Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) tremble to think what would happen if they find out about their infidelity.
Notary Observed by Don Alfonso (Peter Graham), Guglielmo (Igor Vieira), and Ferrando (Brian Thorsett) pretend to be shocked to find a notary (Elisabeth Russ) hiding under the table.
Contract Don Alfonso (Theodore Weis) observes as Ferrando (Jorge Garza) and Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst) express horror when they discover a wedding contract signed by the sisters.
Confrontation Ferrando (Jorge Garza) and Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst) declare that they will have vengeance while Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) and Fiordiligi (Teressa Byrne) confess that they are guilty and deserve to die.
Heart Dorabella (Sally Mouzon) is shocked when Guglielmo (Sascha Joggerst) reveals that he was the Albanian she gave her heart to.
Reunited Reunited by Don Alfonso (Peter Graham)—Ferrando (Brian Thorsett) with Dorabella (Meghan Dibble) and Fiordiligi (Rebecca Schuessler) with Guglielmo (Igor Vieira)—the original couples reaffirm their love.
Payment Despina (Elisabeth Russ) demands her reward from Don Alfonso (Peter Graham).

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