Synopsis
Così fan tutte, comedy in two acts, takes place in Naples, Italy during the 18th century.
Act I
Don Alfonso and his two young friends, the soldiers Ferrando and Guglielmo, are discussing the fidelity of women. Don Alfonso claims that all women are fickle but Ferrando and Guglielmo are convinced that the two sisters Fiodiligi and Dorabella, their fiancées, will never be unfaithful.. Don Alfonso wagers that by the end of the day he will have proved them unfaithful just as any other lady (so do they all). Ferrando and Guglielmo, convinced of their betrotheds’ fidelity, accept the wager and agree to pretend they have received orders to leave Naples, and furthermore, to then return in disguise and attempt to seduce the women under false identities.
Fiordiligi and Dorabella are singing the praises of their lovers, when Don Alfonso arrives to tell them of the new military order. Ferrando and Guglielmo will have to depart for the battlefield. The young men arrive in their uniforms, ready to depart, and bid the two girls affectionate farewell. Despina, their maid, is preparing breakfast when the sisters enter and tell her of their loss. She advises them to amuse themselves while their lovers are away, an advice that meets with horrified rejection. Don Alfonso, who has overheard this conversation, sees in Despina a possible ally for his plot and persuades her to connive with him. He lets Guglielmo and Ferrando into the house, disguised as Albanians. The sisters are shocked to find two strangers in their home, and even more shocked when the two begin courting them. Don Alfonso pretends they are old friends of his and pleads their cause, but Fiordiligi proclaims her fidelity to her absent lover.
The sisters are lamenting the departure of their lovers, when the two Albanians suddenly rush in. They melodramatically swallow what appears to be poison and collapse. Despina and Don Alfonso go in search of a doctor, leaving the sisters to watch over the apparently dying men. The doctor, Despina in disguise, announces that he is a follower of the famous Dr. Mesmer and pretends to extract the poison from the two strangers, who, as they recover, renew their ardent manifestation of love.
Act II
The two sisters have by now been softened by Despina, and decide there would be no harm after all in a little innocent flirtation. Dorabella, Ferrando’s betrothed, chooses Guglielmo while Fiordiligi, Guglielmo’s betrothed, chooses Ferrando.
The Albanian suitors have arranged a serenade for the two sisters, and Fiordiligi goes off for a stroll with Ferrando and the disguised Guglielmo courts Dorabella. To his astonishment, she yields and exchanges a locket with him. They go out together as Ferrando returns with Fiordiligi, who has remained outwardly steadfast. The two young men then meet to exchange news of their progress. Ferrando is overcome with grief when Guglielmo shows him Dorabella’s locket.
While Don Alfonso and Guglielmo hide to observe, Ferrando makes another attack upon Fiordiligi’s tenacity. Much to Guglielmo’s distress, she finally yields. Don Alfonso has won the bet and he tries to console the two chastened young men with the moral that women always act in this manner – “Così fan tutte”.
They all proceed to celebrate the sisters’ betrothal to the Albanians, and while Despina disguised as a notary presents them with the marriage contracts, a drumroll is heard in the distance, announcing the return of the officers. In simulated panic the Albanians and the fake notary hide. A moment later Ferrando and Guglielmo appear in uniform. They pretend to be puzzled by the cool reception they receive until they discover the marriage contracts and the notary. With drawn swords they rush out in pursuit of their rivals, only to return immediately with their disguises in hand. The ruse has been revealed and as the young men loose the wager, nothing remains but to follow Don Alfonso’s advice to forgive and forget.
