Mozart Comic Opera Comes to National Theater

The tensile strength of two trite and true threads of theatric inspiration – the bravado that masks male insecurity mixed with the faltering fidelity of women in relationships –will be once again put to the test in an upcoming production in the National Theater.

This time around, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart sets the mood in his opera buffa “Così fan tutte,” sometimes translated as “Women are like that.” The lyrics and stage directions were written by the famous librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, who wrote two other librettos for Mozart operas.

“Così fan tutte” deals with two sets of young couples, soon to be married. Guglielmo and Ferrando are two friends engaged to two sisters, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, respectively. When the everlasting fidelity of their lovers is called into question, they set out to deceive and test the faithfulness of their respective fiancées by disguising themselves and each vying for the hand of the other’s love.

The comedy in the style of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” is being presented by the Culture Ministry the last week of July and the first week of August. Performances are set for July 26 at 5 p.m., July 28 and 31 at 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 3, 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from ¢4,000 to 28,000 ($7 to $48) and are available at the National Theater box office. For information, call 2221-5341 or visit www.teatronacional.go.cr.

–Daniel Shea