Opera Mariposa presents a female-led, body-positive new production of the classic opera Così fan tutte
November 9, 2018 (Vancouver, BC) – This month, Vancouver opera company Opera Mariposa is launching their seventh season by bringing a classic Mozart opera into the 21st century. On November 30-December 8, Mariposa will present a new take on Così fan tutte at Marpole United Church. The production features two international casts of acclaimed and award-winning young artists, and pairs Mozart’s melodies with a fresh, female-driven interpretation.
“It’s exciting to bring a 230-year-old opera into the modern age,” says director Robin Hahn. “Così fan tutte is definitely full of colourful characters, outlandish plots, ridiculous hijinks and all that – but in its time, it was also a witty satire that challenged the status quo of women’s roles in the 18th century. We wanted to look at what that could mean for today’s audiences, while staying true to the opera’s premise and its irreverent spirit.”
The plot of Così fan tutte (“They all do it”) revolves around two couples who think they have the ideal relationships – until an old cynic decides to prove them wrong. Set at a beachside resort, Mariposa’s reimagining introduces a body-positive atmosphere, several cheeky modern touches and even the occasional plot twist. “Opera Mariposa was created by and for young artists, and we want to lay to rest the idea that opera is stuffy or outdated,” says Hahn. “This show is an antidote to the winter blues – it’s a fun tropical getaway right here in Vancouver.”
While the opera’s setting is new, Mariposa’s production has much to please even the most traditional of operagoers. The score contains some of Mozart’s most beloved musical highlights, and the opera will be performed by an ensemble cast that includes award-winners from the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, the Vancouver Opera Guild, the Johann Strauss Competition, the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival and more.
Così fan tutte stars sopranos Jacqueline Ko and Kathryn Nickford as Fiordiligi; mezzo-sopranos Shanté Van Horlick and Melissa Ratcliff as Dorabella; tenor Lyndon Ladeur as Ferrando; baritone Cameron Killick as Guglielmo; sopranos Julia Rooney and Katrina Goh as Despina; and bass-baritones Alexander Adams-Leytes and Michael MacKinnon as Don Alfonso. The opera will be conducted by Ian Dives with accompaniment by Ryan Goetz, and the production will be presented in Italian with English subtitles.
