COSÌ FAN TUTTE at San Francisco Opera

San Francisco Opera's 2013 presentation of Mozart's Così fan tutte features staging by Jose Maria Condemi of John Cox's concept which reimagines the comedic opera in a Mediterranean beach town on the eve of World War I. The opera also highlights the contributions of production designer Robert Perdziola and lighting designer Christopher Maravich. The ensemble cast is composed of all artists making role debuts. Marco Vinco portrays the philosopher Don Alfonso, who makes a bet with two young men, Ferrando (Francesco Demuro) and Guglielmo (Philippe Sly), that flirting with their lovers while in disguise would prove that the women are unfaithful. Ellie Dehn portrays Fiordiligi, the fiancée of Guglielmo, and Dorabella, who is engaged to Ferrando, is performed by Christel Lötzsch. Susannah Biller bows as Despina, the two sisters' maid and co-conspirator with Don Alfonso. Music director Nicola Luisotti conducts a "lively and shimmering" (San Francisco Examiner) account of Mozart's third and final collaboration with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte in a co-production with Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Così fan tutte is performed in Italian with English subtitles and has an approximate running time of 2 hours and 55 minutes.