Comic opera ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ at Bryan College

The Bryan Opera Theatre will present Mozart’s comic opera “Cosi Fan Tutte (Women Are Like That)” in two performances this weekend.

Assistant professor of music Kimberly Keck, who will direct the performance, describes the opera as “a wonderful comic tale that has become part of the standard repertoire.”

“Cosi Fan Tutte” tells the story of two soldiers, engaged to sisters, who are challenged to see whether their sweethearts will remain faithful to them. An older but unmarried man, aided by the sisters’ maid, sets events in motion and provides counsel until matters are resolved.

Principal roles will be sung by students Kelly Findley as Don Alfonso, the old man; Garrett Hill and Randy Bright as Ferrando and Guglielmo, the soldiers; Natalie Hughes and Mariana Sterne as sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella; and Katherine Warren as Despina, the maid.

A 14-member chorus will support the principal cast, with accompaniment provided by an orchestra. The opera will be presented in English rather than the original Italian.

Keck says that, while the opera is entertaining, the underlying goal is education.

“The purpose for doing opera at the collegiate level is to give students experience in singing with good technique, moving on stage and interacting with others in the cast.”

A comic opera, she adds, is “a nice change from the much darker ‘Street Scene’ that we did last year.”