Watch + Listen Wednesday

Act I

Scene one – a coffee shop  Don Alfonso questions the fidelity of sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella, whose goodness Guglielmo and Ferrando vehemently affirm. Still skeptical, Alfonso suggests the two officers put their girlfriends to the test. A wager of a hundred zecchini is at stake, and the two young men already plan how to spend what they believe to be easy money – Ferrando shall hire a band of players to serenade his beloved, while Guglielmo shall throw a lavish party. They accept the challenge.

http://youtu.be/lPGq9tYUMF8

(Act I, scene 1: Vienna State Opera, 1983: Directed by Riccardo Muti with James Morris as Guglielmo, Francisco Araiza as Ferrando and Sesto Bruscantini as Don Alfonso)

Scene two – a garden near the seashore  Fiordiligi and Dorabella admire miniatures of their respective boyfriends, whom they compare to Adonis and Apollo. Fiordiligi suddenly has a strange sense of apprehension, and shortly after, Don Alfonso drops in with some dreadful news. Guglielmo and Ferrando have been called up for active duty in the army and must depart that very morning. As the two soldiers arrive to bid farewell, the ladies swoon, knowing they will languish in their lovers’ absence. Promising to write often, the men depart to the march of a soldiers’ chorus. Don Alfonso is pleased with the progress of his plan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMY3Ou9L5xE

(Act I, scene 2 Trio: “Soave sia il vento” — “May the wind be gentle” at Paris Opera Garnier, 1996: Susan Chilcott as Fiordiligi, Susan Graham as Dorabella and William Shimell as Don Alfonso.)

Scene three – a room inside the villa  Despina disdainfully prepares her ladies’ breakfast chocolate. She steals a tiny sip and is nearly caught by the two sisters, who enter despairingly. Once familiar with the cause of their distress, Despina shrugs it off. Why not look at the bright side and take new lovers in their stead – that’s what the men are likely to do. She has found one can’t find constancy in soldiers or gentlemen. Both women are shocked at the suggestion.

http://youtu.be/TYP5wJ-EtU8

(Act I, scene 3 Aria: “In uomini, in soldati, sperare fedeltà?” —”In men, in soldiers, you hope for faithfulness?” at Metropolitan Opera, 1996: Cecilia Bartoli as Despina.)
Don Alfonso sees Despina as a valuable ally to his scheming, but he can’t let her in on all of the details. He finds that a little money will make her a willing accomplice. She agrees to make the villa accessible to two Albanian soldiers, who are entranced by the ladies. Despina meets them at the door and is surprised by their unusual appearance – she does not recognize the disguised Guglielmo and Ferrando.
Fiordiligi and Dorabella are angered by the intrusion of the suitors, who immediately and inappropriately profess their love. The two men pretend to recognize Don Alfonso as their former tutor, but this extra credibility does nothing to impress the two sisters. They order the intruders out of their house of virtue. Further pleading does not break the ladies’ indomitable will, and they brusquely leave the room. Guglielmo and Ferrando are reassured by their lovers’ steadfast devotion.
The day is not over yet, observes Alfonso. They must pursue the sisters in the garden. He confers with Despina, who is certain her vapid employers will eventually capitulate. They strategize their next move.

Scene four – a garden  Fiordiligi and Dorabella overhear the men’s desperate cries – if the ladies won’t have them, then death is the only alternative. Appearing before them, Guglielmo and Ferrando each pretend to take a draught of arsenic. Horrified, the sisters have Despina fetch a doctor and try to comfort the dying men. The doctor soon arrives (really Despina in disguise) and provides a fashionable cure using a large magnet. It works like a charm, and the men begin to revive, begging for a kiss to ensure a complete recovery. The indignant sisters refuse.

http://youtu.be/dCWxbfFIflE

(Act 1, scene 4: Finale at Glyndebourne, 2006: Luca Pisaronin as Guglielmo, Miah Persson as Fiordiligi, Topi Lehtipuu as Ferrando, Anke Vondung as Dorabella, Ainhoa Garmendia as Despina and Nicolas Rivenq as Don Alfonso.)

Act II

Scene one – a room   Despina continues to deride her employers’ priggish attitudes – why not have a little harmless fun while their boyfriends are away? If people talk, the sisters can claim the men were calling upon her. Dorabella is the first to see reason. They should seek a brief diversion to alleviate their melancholy. Once their beaus are back, the affairs shall be over. She’ll take the dark one (Guglielmo) while Fiordiligi may have the fair one (Ferrando).

http://youtu.be/zSiM0045Po4

(Act II, scene 1 Duet: “Prenderò quel brunettino”—”I will take the dark one” at Metropolitan Opera, 1996: Carol Vaness as Fiordiligi and Susanne Mentzer as Dorabella)

Scene two – a garden near the seashore  Still disguised, Guglielmo and Ferrando have hired a barge with musicians, and serenade their paramours. The sisters are quite taken aback and need a little more coaxing from Don Alfonso and Despina. The plan now is to divide and conquer. Privately, Guglielmo gives Dorabella a heart-shaped pendant, exchanging it for the miniature of Ferrando. Fiordiligi is more resistant, yet is forced to wrestle with her conscience after Ferrando’s frank admission of love.
The two men compare notes, and Ferrando is shocked to discover his miniature in Guglielmo’s possession. He is crushed by Dorabella’s faithlessness, and Guglielmo provides little comfort.

(Act II, scene 1 Aria: “Per pietà, ben mio, perdona” —”Please, my beloved, forgive” from the 1988 Jean-Pierre Ponnelle film: Edita Gruberova as Fiordiligi.)

Scene three – a room  Dorabella confides in Despina her recent acquiescence to her Albanian’s affections. Fiordiligi enters, angered by the uncontrollable desire blossoming in her heart. To create some distance, she instructs Despina to get their fiancés’ uniforms from the closet. She will go to the battlefront to be with Guglielmo – she encourages Dorabella to do the same.
Ferrando enters and begins to woo Fiordiligi with renewed zeal. Her resolve finally falters, and she gives in to his entreaties. Guglielmo is furious when he discovers what has happened, and he and his friend plan their retaliation. Don Alfonso suggests a fake wedding ceremony for the grand denouement and sagely reminds them of his earlier premise – they are women, after all, and women are all like that. Despina confirms the ladies are amenable to marriage.

http://youtu.be/FIz4-1ZSepA

(Act II, Scene 2 Duet: “Fra gli amplessi” — “In the embraces” at Piccolo Teatro di Milano, 1998: Jonas Kaufmann as Ferrando and Eteri Gvazava as Fiordiligi.)

Scene four – an elegantly prepared salon   Despina instructs the servants to ready the house for a festive celebration. The two couples enter jubilantly as the men conceal their rage. Again disguised, Despina officiates as the notary, and the ladies (only) sign the marriage contracts. Suddenly, drums are heard in the distance – their former boyfriends have returned from battle. Flustered, Fiordiligi and Dorabella hide their new spouses in another room and scramble for an explanation.
Guglielmo and Ferrando reenter, now dressed as themselves, and question their lovers’ uneasy demeanor. They discover the marriage contracts and angrily demand to see their rivals. Don Alfonso points them to the hiding place, and the men go inside, only to emerge later in partial disguise, thus revealing the ruse. The duped women sheepishly return to their original partners. Despina is shocked to find that she too was deceived, Don Alfonso advises everyone to laugh it off and all observe the lessons of their misadventure.

http://youtu.be/nPI190gOzTQ

(Act II, scene 4: Finale at Salzburg Festival, 2009: Miah Persson as Fiordiligi, Isabel Leonard as Dorabella, Patricia Petibon as Despina, Topi Lehtipuu as Ferrando, Florian Boesch as Guglielmo and Bo Skovhus as Don Alfonso.)

Speaking of fun times with Minnesota Opera singers, here is our season commercial, which has been getting snaps from coast to coast. Thank you Adriana Zabala!