Cosi fan Tutte

Don Alfonso asserts that all women are unreliable, but Ferrando and Guglielmo defend their fiancées, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, insisting that they would never betray them. To prove his point, Don Alfonso proposes a bet that will settle the matter by day’s end, but only if Ferrando and Guglielmo fully cooperate.

Fiordiligi and Dorabella are singing joyfully about their fiancés when Don Alfonso interrupts to inform them that their lovers have been called to war and must leave immediately. After an emotional goodbye, the two sailors depart. Despina arrives to serve breakfast, and the sisters share their sad news. She suggests they distract themselves while their lovers are gone.

Don Alfonso introduces Despina to two wealthy, attractive men who have just arrived by ship (actually Ferrando and Guglielmo disguised as two foreign sailors) and convinces her to help him set them up as new suitors for the ladies. Although Fiordiligi and Dorabella are initially repulsed by these strangers, Don Alfonso and Despina continue to press the matter.

Later, the men return, and after ingesting poison, they pretend to be on the brink of death! Despina, now posing as a doctor, “cures” them. After recovering, the men reaffirm their love for the sisters.

Despina continues to encourage the sisters to enjoy themselves, and they reluctantly agree that some harmless flirtation might be fun.

Fiordiligi agrees to take a walk with Ferrando, while Guglielmo continues his pursuit of Dorabella. To Guglielmo’s surprise, Dorabella gives in and even exchanges a locket with him. Meanwhile, Fiordiligi remains resolute in her devotion to Ferrando, even though she begins to struggle with her emotions. The two men meet to compare their progress, and Ferrando is heartbroken when Guglielmo shows him Dorabella’s locket. Don Alfonso reminds them that the experiment is far from over.

Ferrando renews his efforts to win Fiordiligi over, and much to Guglielmo’s dismay, she eventually gives in. Eventually, Don Alfonso convinces the men that they should teach Dorabella and Fiordiligi a lesson by marrying them!

As the supposed return of the soldiers is announced by distant military music, the suitors quickly hide. They reappear moments later as their true selves in uniform – Ferrando and Guglielmo, only to find the marriage contract and a disguised Despina acting as the notary. After rushing off to confront their rivals, the two men return to expose the true identities of the suitors. The deception is revealed, but where do they go from here!