Five-Star Così fan tutte makes welcome return to the Sydney Opera House this winter
1 – 17 August 2024 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Sir David McVicar’s critically acclaimed production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comic yet poignant Così fan tutte returns this August, marking its first time back on the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage since its premiere season in 2016.
Awarded five stars by The Sydney Morning Herald, McVicar’s inspired and insightful production reflects the last summer of innocence before war shatters the 20th century, with this beautiful and grand opera staging.
For the first time, the Opera Australia Orchestra and performers will be led by a Greek conductor, La Maestra semi-finalist Zoe Zeniodi making her debut with the company.
A Fellow of the Hart Institute of Women Conductors and currently one of the six women worldwide selected to be a member of the La Maestra Academy over 2022-24, Maestro Zeniodi has performed guest conductor stints with orchestras across Europe, USA, South America, Asia, New Zealand and Queensland Symphony.
This production features an exceptional ensemble cast that includes international soprano Nardus Williams and New Zealand-Tongan tenor Filipe Manu making their Australian debuts and Australian soprano Alexandra Oomens making her debut with the company. Mezzo soprano Helen Sherman will perform Dorabella, baritone Nathan Lay will play Guglielmo, with Opera Australia veteran Richard Anderson as Don Alfonso.
Set in late summer in the early 1900s, designer Moritz Junge’s lavish sets and ravishing costumes evoke a sense of grandeur, drawing on turn of the century Italian fashions and set inside a grand country villa with an impressive lantern-covered tree, bathed in glorious Mediterranean sunlight.
Così fan tutte (All women are the same), the final in Mozart’s trilogy of operas composed with librettist Da Ponte, is a feisty farce that explores fidelity, sex, heartbreak and loss of innocence, when a joke goes too far and love really is on the line.
Creatives
Conductor Zoe Zeniodi
Director David McVicar
Revival Director Andy Morton
Set and Costume Designer Moritz
Junge
Lighting Designer David Finn
Cast
Fiordiligi Nardus Williams
Dorabella Helen Sherman
Guglielmo Nathan Lay
Ferrando Filipe Manu
Despina Alexandra Oomens
Don Alfonso Richard Anderson
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra
Performance information
Evenings at 7.00pm
August 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 15
Saturday Matinee at 12.00pm
August 10, 17
Running time
Approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes,
including one interval.
Performed in Italian with English surtitles
Production Partner
Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
Joan Sutherland Theatre,
Sydney Opera House
