Così fan tutte

And let me now properly introduce Steven White, principal guest conductor of Opera Omaha, and someone who's conducted all around the country and indeed all around the world.

The Rake's Progress, La Traviata, Eugene Onegin, Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletta, Cosi Fan Tutti, all these at Opera Omaha.

But also, Stephen, you've conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Roanoke.

For many years, you were affiliated in a quite important position with Opera Roanoke and even received an honorary doctorate from Roanoke College.

I would say Don Giovanni, but Zauberflöte, now that I stage it, I love it.

And Le Nozze di Figaro, Così Fan Tutte.

Okay, let's say Don Giovanni.

Okay.

But the little G minor is...

And last one is favorite Mozart overture.

It's between Così fan tutte and Magic Flute.

The Magic Flute is

¶¶ That was the Paris National Opera Orchestra, conducted by Lauren Marzell, with the overture from Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Mozart and da Ponte's final collaboration was Così fan tutte oscia la scuola degli amanti.

or Women Are All Like That, or The School for Lovers.

You can probably tell from the title that there are some challenging issues about the portrayal of women in this opera, in which two sisters' affections for their fiancés are shown to be less than absolute.

It is possible to enjoy the story just as a light-hearted exploration of the cracks in the facade of young love.

But then perhaps I am now sounding like the character Don Alfonso, who comes up with the whole device of testing the fidelity of the two sisters.

Maybe old men should keep their mouths shut and just play the music.

This is the Drottingholm Court Orchestra, conducted by Arnold Erstman, with the overture to Mozart's Cosi fan tutte.