NORTHERN Ireland Opera’s new production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte comes to the Grand Opera House in Belfast this weekend. The company's first production to be performed in the original Italian, it will then move to the Millennium Forum in Derry next week.
Directing her first ever opera, Adele Thomas brings the Così fan tutte story to life in the world of the roaring 1920s. The cast includes Anna Devin and Heather Lowe as the naïve sisters, Samuel Dale Johnson and Sam Furness as the lovestruck soldiers, John Molloy as the scheming old philosopher, and Aoife Miskelly (Don Giovanni, Radamisto) as the mischievous maid.
Mozart's score will be performed by the Ulster Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Chalmers.
Walter Sutcliffe, artistic director of Northern Ireland Opera, said: "Experiencing Così fan tutte is an incredible life-affirming experience, and it is a great privilege to be able to present it.
"It's a work that concerns the complex interplay of artifice and truth, that embraces paradox, and combines farce and high art in a unique way. It’s quite probably the most sophisticated product of the greatest composer/librettist duo [Mozart and Lorenzo da Ponte] in operatic history. Come and celebrate it with us.”
Ciaran Scullion, head of music with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: "Northern Ireland Opera is one of our best artistic companies whose work truly celebrates and champions the exceptional quality of the arts sector here regionally, nationally and internationally.
"The Arts Council is proud to support this production of Così fan tutte, through National Lottery and public funding, which showcases the talents of many of our local opera singers and also features our wonderful Ulster Orchestra."
:: Così fan tutte, Grand Opera House, Belfast, Friday November 17 to Sunday November 19; Millennium Forum, Derry, Thursday November 23. Visit NIOpera.com for more information and links to book tickets.