Così fan tutte

September 14 - September 28, 2025

Description

Mozart’s comedy about the perils of attraction, fidelity, and compatibility returns to the California Theatre to open our 42nd season! When the cynical Don Alfonso wagers to two young lovers that their devoted girlfriends will cheat on them by the end of the day, they swaggeringly take him up on the offer. Who will come out on top, and what secrets of love will be revealed? With an all-star cast including Ricardo José Rivera as Guglielmo & Dale Travis as Don Alfonso, this is one show you do not want to miss! International tenor sensation Alek Shrader makes his OSJ directorial debut with Music Director Maestro Joseph Marcheso.

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Synopsis

A COFFEEHOUSE
Two young soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, debate the fidelity of women with their friend Don Alfonso. The soldiers passionately defend the virtue of their sweethearts—sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella—insisting they would never be unfaithful. Don Alfonso, ever the cynic, challenges their idealism by claiming that no women are paragons of loyalty.

He proposes a wager to prove his point but insists that the soldiers take part in a charade under his direction for the next 24 hours. Confident in their lovers’ unwavering devotion, Ferrando and Guglielmo accept the challenge without hesitation.

THE GARDEN OF THE GIRLS’ VILLA
The sisters sit and revel in their love for Ferrando and Guglielmo. Alfonso soon arrives with somber news: the young men have been recalled to their regiment and are being sent to the front lines. Ferrando and Guglielmo appear, and the lovers share an emotional farewell.

THE GIRLS’ VILLA
Despina, the sisters’ maid, advises them to move on from heartbreak by finding new lovers. Offended by her flippant view, Fiordiligi and Dorabella reject her suggestion. Don Alfonso then enlists Despina in his scheme, bribing her to help introduce two “foreign friends” to the women—who are, in fact, their lovers in disguise. The mustachioed men profess their admiration; the sisters are outraged (and fail to recognize them). Fiordiligi passionately defends their fidelity, comparing it to a rock in the stormy sea (“Come scoglio”). The sisters exit and the men are thrilled at their rejection, though Alfonso cautions that the wager isn’t won yet.

THE GARDEN
The sisters lament the absence of their lovers once more. Suddenly, the mustache men burst in, and (pretend to) ingest deadly poison. Alfonso and Despina rush off to get “help.” As the sisters tend to the ailing men, their resolve begins to weaken. Despina returns in disguise as a Doctor and, using wondrous “medical” techniques, miraculously draws out the poison. Revived, the men resume their romantic pursuit, but the sisters ultimately resist their advances (for now).

STILL IN THE GARDEN
Despina urges her mistresses to give in to the charms of their foreign suitors. The sisters debate whether flirtation might be harmless fun while their lovers are away. Dorabella is willing to entertain the idea, and Fiordiligi reluctantly agrees—Dorabella selects the disguised Guglielmo, while Fiordiligi accepts the other suitor (Ferrando). The young men arrive and escalate their charade. Guglielmo, left alone with Dorabella, eventually succeeds in winning her over—she now wears his heart (“Il core vi dono”). Ferrando, meanwhile, enjoys failure in pursuit of Fiordiligi. But once alone, Fiordiligi admits that the strange man has stirred her heart—she hopes her absent lover will forgive her unfaithful thoughts (“Per pietà, ben mio, perdona”). The men compare notes, and Guglielmo is pleased that Fiordiligi remains steadfast, while Ferrando is devastated to learn that Dorabella has been seduced by his friend.

FIORDILIGI’S ROOM
Alone and conflicted, Fiordiligi resolves not to act on her growing feelings for the suitor and instead plans to disguise herself as a soldier to join her lover, Guglielmo, on the battlefield. Ferrando (still disguised) presses her with new tactics to accept his advances. Overcome, she finally gives in. When Guglielmo learns of her betrayal, he is enraged and wounded, but Alfonso urges forgiveness, reminding the soldiers with the phrase “Così fan tutte” (“All women do that”). He encourages both men to marry their sweethearts. Despina delivers news that the sisters would accept the proposal.

THE GIRLS’ VILLA
A hasty wedding is arranged (including Despina in another disguise—this time as a Notary). But once the marriage contract is signed, the soldiers’ homecoming is announced. In a panic, the suitors are hidden away—but when Ferrando and Guglielmo appear as themselves, the charade is soon revealed. The lovers look for reconciliation, a bit wiser than they used to be.

The opera concludes with a maxim: Those who are lucky (or wise) will see the positive in all things, and in the chaos will find calm.

Our Finale: Two couples face the ultimate loyalty test—but this time, YOU decide who stays together and who strays. Will they forgive and reunite, or switch things up and couple off with someone new? Partnering with Cloud4Wi, Opera San José puts the finale in your hands: cast your vote at intermission, and choose how the opera ends.

Know Before You Go

Length

Doors open 90 Minutes before the performance.

12:30 PM for matinees and 6:00 PM for evening performances

Join us for a preshow discussion at 1:00 PM for matinees and 6:30 PM for evening performances.

Our Friday, September 26 and Sunday, September 28 performances will be conducted by Noah Lindquist

Show Runtime: 2 hours and forty-five minutes with one 20-minute intermisson*
This runtime includes the intermision

The organ player will be performing 30 minutes before curtain.

Parking

We always encourage you to choose public transportation when possible, but if you do drive, please give yourself plenty of extra time and carpool whenever possible.

For those being dropped off / picked up, there is a passenger loading zone directly in front of the theatre entrance. For more information on parking in Downtown San Jose please visit parksj.org