Opera Theatre of the Rockies to Present COSI FAN TUTTE

Colorado Springs audiences are in for a delicious musical adventure on April 9 & 10 when Opera Theatre of the Rockies and the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs team up to present Mozart's delightful opera buffa Così fan tutte. Two churches will host the performances, which will be fully-staged, costumed, and true to the 18th century as originally set by Mozart. The opera will be performed in the original Italian, with supertitles. The performances will be at First Christian Church (16 E. Platte) on Saturday, April 9 at 7:00 PM, and at First United Methodist Church (420 N. Nevada) on Sunday, April 10 at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $30 and $35 for adults, and $10 for students and can be obtained at Meeker Music (624 N. Tejon), by calling 719-646-3127, or online at www.operatheatreoftherockies.org.

Così fan tutte was premiered in 1790 and the title is commonly translated as "Women are like that." This refers to the plot which turns on a bet between two officers deeply in love with their fiancées (who are sisters). Their confidence in their true loves is challenged by an old philosopher who believes that women can never really be truly faithful, and proposes a bet to prove his belief. The two officers accept the bet, and claim to be called off to war. Soon after, they return in disguise pretending to be mustached Albanians and attempt to seduce each other's fiancée. Add in the women's maid who is bribed by the philosopher to help him win his wager, and fun ensues as the characters try to accept "life's good times and bad times."

The musical score includes some of the most beautiful music ever written by Mozart. Though some feel that the beauty of Mozart's music sometimes seems at odds with the story, others embrace the uneasy marriage as Mozart's way to make this unlikely story hit its mark, leaving audiences to contemplate the fragility of our own relationships, regardless of the true depth of our feelings.

Murky motives aside, Così fan tutte is an opera for everyone, and will delight audiences with rollicking fun and beautiful music that expresses emotions that the characters themselves cannot put into words.

Martile Rowland, Opera Theatre's Founder and Artistic Director recently said, "I am delighted to work with Thomas Wilson and the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs to present this wonderful opera to southern Colorado audiences. The story is light-hearted and fun, and the music will leave people of all ages with a unique operatic memory. The Chamber Orchestra will be a great partner in these performances of Mozart's beautiful score." Thomas Wilson, Music Director and Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra will conduct the production.

Rowland is honored to welcome George Preston to the production as co-director. Preston is the General Manager of KCME Radio and has an extensive opera background. He came to Colorado Springs from WFMT in Chicago, where he was the producer of the internationally syndicated "Lyric Opera of Chicago Broadcasts." He holds music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and Boston University. A former singer and actor, George performed operatic roles including Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Figaro in Mozart'sThe Marriage of Figaro and Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Mercutio in Gounod's Romeo & Juliet, and Demetrius in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The production's artistic staff is complete with Daniel Brink as music director and pianist, as well as chorus master. Brink has been with Opera Theater for many productions and always brings life and joy to the music of the production. Brink teaches at Colorado College and is the principal accompanist for the Colorado Springs Chorale.

Rowland and Preston have assembled a wonderful & talented cast with both Opera Theatre Alums and some new faces. The cast includes:
Chad Reagan Guglielmo
Humberto Borboa Ferrando
Nicholas Shelton Don Alfonso
Michelle Diggs Thompson Fiordiligi
Jennifer DeDominici Dorabella
Karla Hughes Despina

To post a comment, you must register and login.