When it first opened on Jan. 26, 1790 in Vienna, “Così fan tutte” wasn’t very well received, nor did it have the same success as Mozart’s previous operas. Fast forward to the 20th century, and Mozart’s comic farce suddenly was one of the favorites of opera repertoire. It continues to be produced throughout the world. Now, it’s being presented in a delicious production at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
In comparison to Mozart’s previous hits “The Marriage of Figaro” and “The Magic Flute,” “Così fan tutte” was considered frivolous by opera aficionados of the time. The title loosely translates to “Women are like that” or “so do they all.” Both titles refer to the assumption that women are unfaithful.
