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Cosi Fan Tutte in Full Score
Translated from the Italian, Cosi fan tutte means "That's how all women act"; the libretto, the last of three Lorenzo da Ponte wrote for Mozart, concerns the behavior of women, particularly the behavior of young women in the throes of romantic love. Are they fickle? Are their affections mutable? Their virtue flexible? In Cosi fan tutte, Mozart and Da Ponte answer with resounding affirmatives.
In the nearly 200 years since it was first performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Cosi fan tutte has waxed and waned and waxed again in popularity. The music, with its richness of melody, harmony, and texture, and its perfection of form, has never been considered less than brilliant. The libretto, however, has not been as well received as evidenced by attempts in the 19th century to "improve" it, making it more possible to the overly decorous sensibilities of the Victorians.
In examining the reaction of 19th-century opera goers, the noted British composer, conductor, and musicologist Spike Hughes laments, "The opera must indeed have seemed to them sadly untypical of the Divine Mozart, who not only seemed to enjoy this trivialities, not to say indecencies, of an exquisitely constructed libretto, but even went so far as to squander an unending stream of lovely music on worthless characters and contemptible situations."
The "worthless" characters are Ferrando and Guglielmo, two Italian army officers in love with two Neapolitan sisters, Fiodiligi and Dorabella. The "contemptible" situation is a wager and the comedy of deception that bragging of their ladies' fidelity, the two officers are challenged by a sage but cynical Don Alfonso who declares, "The faithfulness of woman is like the everybody has heard about it, but nobody has ever actually seen it."
In the 20th century Cosi fan tutte has once again secured its rightful and prestigious place among the world's great operas. This volume, containing the full score with Italian and German text, is reproduced from one of the most complete, accurate, and scholarly editions available. It also contains a new translation of the German editors' frontmatter and critical commentary, which includes a review of dubious passages and text problems. Beautifully and clearly engraved, this modestly priced edition of Cosi fan tutte will be welcomed by musicians, students, and all opera lovers.
In the nearly 200 years since it was first performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Cosi fan tutte has waxed and waned and waxed again in popularity. The music, with its richness of melody, harmony, and texture, and its perfection of form, has never been considered less than brilliant. The libretto, however, has not been as well received as evidenced by attempts in the 19th century to "improve" it, making it more possible to the overly decorous sensibilities of the Victorians.
In examining the reaction of 19th-century opera goers, the noted British composer, conductor, and musicologist Spike Hughes laments, "The opera must indeed have seemed to them sadly untypical of the Divine Mozart, who not only seemed to enjoy this trivialities, not to say indecencies, of an exquisitely constructed libretto, but even went so far as to squander an unending stream of lovely music on worthless characters and contemptible situations."
The "worthless" characters are Ferrando and Guglielmo, two Italian army officers in love with two Neapolitan sisters, Fiodiligi and Dorabella. The "contemptible" situation is a wager and the comedy of deception that bragging of their ladies' fidelity, the two officers are challenged by a sage but cynical Don Alfonso who declares, "The faithfulness of woman is like the everybody has heard about it, but nobody has ever actually seen it."
In the 20th century Cosi fan tutte has once again secured its rightful and prestigious place among the world's great operas. This volume, containing the full score with Italian and German text, is reproduced from one of the most complete, accurate, and scholarly editions available. It also contains a new translation of the German editors' frontmatter and critical commentary, which includes a review of dubious passages and text problems. Beautifully and clearly engraved, this modestly priced edition of Cosi fan tutte will be welcomed by musicians, students, and all opera lovers.
- GenresMusic
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 1790
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82 people want to read
About the author
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
10.2k books187 followersJohann Georg Leopold Mozart, the Austrian composer, toured Europe with his son, child prodigy, noted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who gracefully and imaginatively refined the classical style with symphonies, concertos, operas, Masses, sonatas, and chambers among his 626 numbered works.
The comic plays of French writer Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais inspired Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to operas.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart prolifically influenced the era. Many persons acknowledged this pinnacle of piano and choral music. His popularity most endures.
Mozart showed earliest ability. From the age of five years in 1761 already competently on keyboard and violin performed before royalty. At seventeen years in 1773, a court musician in Salzburg engaged him, who restlessly traveled always abundantly in search of a better position.
Mozard visited Vienna in 1781; Salzburg dismissed his position, and he chose to stay in the capital and achieved fame but little financial security over the rest of life. The final years in Vienna yielded his many best-known Requiem . People much mythologized the circumstances of his early death. Constanze Mozart, his wife, two sons survived him.
Mozart always learned voraciously and developed a brilliance and maturity that encompassed the light alongside the dark and passionate; a vision of humanity, "redeemed through art, forgiven, and reconciled with nature and the absolute," informed the whole. He profoundly influenced all subsequent western art music. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote on his own early in the shadow of Mozart, of whom Franz Joseph Haydn wrote that "posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years."
The comic plays of French writer Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais inspired Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to operas.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart prolifically influenced the era. Many persons acknowledged this pinnacle of piano and choral music. His popularity most endures.
Mozart showed earliest ability. From the age of five years in 1761 already competently on keyboard and violin performed before royalty. At seventeen years in 1773, a court musician in Salzburg engaged him, who restlessly traveled always abundantly in search of a better position.
Mozard visited Vienna in 1781; Salzburg dismissed his position, and he chose to stay in the capital and achieved fame but little financial security over the rest of life. The final years in Vienna yielded his many best-known Requiem . People much mythologized the circumstances of his early death. Constanze Mozart, his wife, two sons survived him.
Mozart always learned voraciously and developed a brilliance and maturity that encompassed the light alongside the dark and passionate; a vision of humanity, "redeemed through art, forgiven, and reconciled with nature and the absolute," informed the whole. He profoundly influenced all subsequent western art music. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote on his own early in the shadow of Mozart, of whom Franz Joseph Haydn wrote that "posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years."
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 3, 2025
This opera is totally sexist and blatantly politically incorrect. It wouldn't be so funny though if there wasn't at least a little truth in the chauvinistic libretto.
June 7, 2020
Includes background on the opera (and its history at the Met), a synopsis, a full libretto with English translation, photos from multiple productions, and endnotes.
Because this guide seems to be geared toward opera singers (many of the endnotes deal with Italian vocabulary), the libretto is translated word-for-word below the original, then retranslated below in parentheses for those passages where the grammar really doesn’t make sense.
Therefore, this isn’t a first choice if you want a literate, rather than a literal, translation. On the other hand, the endnotes point out all the sexual puns, so there’s that.
Because this guide seems to be geared toward opera singers (many of the endnotes deal with Italian vocabulary), the libretto is translated word-for-word below the original, then retranslated below in parentheses for those passages where the grammar really doesn’t make sense.
Therefore, this isn’t a first choice if you want a literate, rather than a literal, translation. On the other hand, the endnotes point out all the sexual puns, so there’s that.
January 10, 2021
La última colaboración de Da Ponte y de Mozart, última faceta de tres obras con una diversidad estupenda. Una historia inspirada en Bocaccio y con un toque perverso que se refuerza por los personajes del libertino Don Alfonso y la maliciosa Despìna, en cuyos tejemanejes la doble pareja sucumbe, marcados con una herida que la comedia apenas disimula.
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July 2, 2011Radio WHT presents Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte - the Western!
*Frontier Radio Theater, April 3, 2011
*Frontier Radio Theater, April 3, 2011
May 31, 2023
so like, i read the surtitles throughout the opera so i'll stand by this counting (not like i'm using the annual goal in any sense anymore, yay character development)
but a fun and mostly lighthearted opera (AH: cf macbeth, they're like chalk and cheese) but lessened the enjoyment none (english? idk i'm tired)
sharp and smart and without any intention, a variation on a very common theme recently (lol) — and quite surprising for its times really, in terms of gender analysis (particularly of women, it's not as misogynistic as one would assume maybe? just me?) in relationships and society etc etc
bit of a lacklustre ending or maybe i was just extremely tired (2minute microdosing nap check) hence the lukewarm 4 stars
will def be attending more opera when i can though!
(goodnight!)
but a fun and mostly lighthearted opera (AH: cf macbeth, they're like chalk and cheese) but lessened the enjoyment none (english? idk i'm tired)
sharp and smart and without any intention, a variation on a very common theme recently (lol) — and quite surprising for its times really, in terms of gender analysis (particularly of women, it's not as misogynistic as one would assume maybe? just me?) in relationships and society etc etc
bit of a lacklustre ending or maybe i was just extremely tired (2minute microdosing nap check) hence the lukewarm 4 stars
will def be attending more opera when i can though!
(goodnight!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2021
Honestamente, esta ópera es bien cómica. La trama de los swingers es bien interesante y la configuración instrumental del clasicismo es relativamente fácil de digerir.
Dentro de la ópera hay muchas formas tripartitas compuestas, por lo que la ópera de tres horas puede resumirse a menos partes de las que parece tener.
Dentro de la ópera hay muchas formas tripartitas compuestas, por lo que la ópera de tres horas puede resumirse a menos partes de las que parece tener.
July 13, 2025
i need to see it on stage😔☝️
August 5, 2025
Ironico. Teatrale. Elegante.
March 1, 2019
So good text plays beautiful games. Dover translation is rather good and I want to read it again and see it again. I like the complexity of Sex and the the class of cynicism and naivete. The wisdom of experience the flightiness of our desires and the conflict it causes. The malleability of love and getting what we want instead of what accidentally happens. All done well great libretto which is so well enhanced by the music...
June 12, 2016
3.5 stars, I liked this! A very funny plot and great stanzas... Perhaps my favourite line:
"The fidelity of women
is like the Arabian phoenix:
everyone says that is exists;
but where it is, no one knows."
"The fidelity of women
is like the Arabian phoenix:
everyone says that is exists;
but where it is, no one knows."
September 19, 2020
Over performed.
December 29, 2019
Commedia buffa, piena di equivoci, sotterfugi e lieto fine. Piacevolissima.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews