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Washington National Opera Presents Così fan tutte in a creative new staging and featuring an all-star cast
PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE: February 8, 2022
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Washington National Opera Presents
Così fan tutte
Creative new staging and all-star cast featured in
Mozart’s classic romantic comedy
Eisenhower Theater
March 12–26, 2022
(WASHINGTON)— In a new production, Washington National Opera (WNO) will present Così fan tutte, March 12–26, 2022 in the Eisenhower Theater, marking the first fully staged production since March 2020. Mozart’s classic will return in a newly conceived production integrating the performers and the orchestra together on the stage of the intimate Eisenhower Theater. This will allow the action to play out close to the audience as they follow the rapid comic and tragic turns of the four young lovers. Despite Mozart’s profound understanding of the human heart, this version looks closely at the central actions of deception between the couples and invites us to ask if the deceivers are the men or the women? Mozart called it Cosi fan tutte (Women are like that), but is Cosi fan tutti (men are like that) more apt?
Hailed as one of the greatest basses of our time, legendary Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto plays the role of Don Alfonso, the “puppet master” of the plot’s experiment in fidelity and human behavior. Furlanetto—in his WNO debut—is one of the most sought-after singers in the world and critics praise him for his vast range, thundering vocal power, and excellent acting ability. The production will also feature “radiant” (Opera Today) soprano Laura Wilde and one of the most exciting mezzo-sopranos singing today Rihab Chaieb as sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella in their own WNO debuts. Highly sought-after lyric tenor Kang Wang and “impressive” (Opera Wire) baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky take on the roles of Ferrando and Guglielmo, respectively. Grammy Award®–winning soprano Ana María Martínez makes her role debut as Despina, returning to WNO in a main role after a decade away. Martínez made an appearance in December as part of a tribute to bass-baritone Justino Díaz during the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
Major Mozart stylist, Erina Yashima, makes an important American operatic debut after many successes on the concert stage in Europe. Yashima joins bold director, Alison Moritz, who has led two new works for the American Opera Initiative series— Proving Up and Taking Up Serpents. Moritz and her design team have created an elegant production featuring period costumes with a strong theatrical interpretation.
Visit WNO’s website for complete production details and casting information.
Così fan tutte Production Information
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
In Italian with projected English subtitles
Cast/Creatives
Laura Wilde* Fiordiligi
Rihab Chaieb* Dorabella
Kang Wang* Ferrando
Andrey Zhilikhovsky Guglielmo
Ana María Martínez Despina
Ferruccio Furlanetto Don Alfonso
Alison Moritz Director
Erina Yashima* Conductor
Erhard Rom Set Designer
Lynly Saunders Costume Designer
Katy Tucker Projections Designer
Mark McCullough Lighting Designer
Ali Pohanka Hair and Makeup Designer
* Washington National Opera debut
Così fan tutte Perfomances
Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 14, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 18, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
FUNDING CREDITS
WNO’s Presenting Sponsor General Dynamics
Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars & Mrs. Eugene B Casey.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets may be purchased online at kennedy-center.org, in-person at the Kennedy Center Box Office, or by calling (202) 467-4600.
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PRESS CONTACT
Chanel Williams
(202) 416-8447
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