How faithful are women really? That is the question that Guglielmo and Ferrando ask themselves in Mozart’s comic opera Così Fan Tutte. To answer it, they put their fiancées to the test by pretending to go off to war and a short time later returning in disguise with the aim of seducing each other’s betrothed. Fortunately, the Opèra de Lausanne has no time for such moral grandstanding. This new staging of Così is Jean Liermier’s second production for Lausanne after his My Fair Lady in 2015. Joshua Weilerstein, artistic director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, pilots the orchestra through Mozart’s colourful score with Stéphanie Guérin (Dorabella), Robert Gleadow (Guglielmo), Valentina Nafornita (Fiordiligi), and Joel Prieto (Ferrando) in the roles of the tried and tested lovers.

Dummy overview.

The main plot of this rampant collection of scenes from the streets of the lower East Side of New York revolves around Frank and Anna Maurrant and their daughter Rose. A violent and tough character, Frank fails to see his wife’s growing despair due to his lack of affection. When he discovers her with her lover, he shots them both and goes to jail, leaving behind a heartbroken Rose who, after having experienced relentless harassment by two aggressive suitors, misses her one true chance at love. The opera ends by showing the streets of New York City moving on from these mundane events in total indifference.

The 2016 Aix-en-Provence Festival presented Mozart’s Così fan tutte in a modern, provocative production directed by Christophe Honoré. The staging reimagined the opera’s exploration of fidelity and deception against the backdrop of colonial-era Africa, addressing themes of power and exploitation. Honoré’s bold interpretation divided audiences, with some praising its daring approach and others finding it controversial. Conducted by Louis Langrée, the performance featured an exceptional cast, including Sandrine Piau, Lenneke Ruiten, and Kate Lindsey, whose vocal finesse and dramatic commitment brought vitality to Mozart’s intricate score. The inventive production blended historical commentary with the opera’s timeless emotional and comedic core, marking a memorable contribution to the festival’s legacy.