Così fan tutte
A classroom guide for teachers
Dear Teachers!
Welcome to San Diego Opera’s Operation: Opera 2008-2009 Ensemble Tour.
We are delighted to bring world-class opera to your school and give your students the
chance to meet the opera stars of the future — today!
Così fan tutte helps students understand that live opera is simply another
method of storytelling using music and words in a powerful and enjoyable way. Cosi
is one of the most famous operas because it shows the true power of how words and music
together tell a story.
Two young men make a bet with an old philosopher that their sweethearts will remain
faithful even if they are far away at war. The young men learn from the wager that to
search for what will make them unhappy is not worthy use of time as love and reason
never reconcile. The opera is one of Mozart’s greatest works because it combines the
high jinx, disguises, and mistaken identities of comedy with a deeply poignant message
about human nature.
Our goal is to prepare students for what to look and listen
for when they attend the performance. Each lesson is based upon the California Visual and
Performing Arts Standards. Please integrate vocabulary words into your word wall and explore
these activities so you and your students will be prepared for a great experience when they
attend Così fan tutte. The StudyGuide includes links to biographies of our
artists and production team, a story synopsis, vocabulary and a unit of study with four
Teacher Lesson Plans and accompanying Student Worksheet. Finally, our archive copy of
Così fan tutte on UCSD Operatalk is available on YouTube and UCSD TV.
Click Here.
It’s a great way to introduce your students to the composer, librettist and the story.
We hope that you will use and copy any of these materials, but please provide credit to San Diego Opera.
If you have any questions about this study guide or Così fan tutte, please call us in the Education
Department, (619) 232-7636.
Cynthia Stokes
Associate Director of School and Community Programs
Four things to know before attending Così fan tutte
Opera is a story that is sung. As you watch and listen to the opera think about how the words and music mix together to develop character relationships, conflict, and an overall artistic effect. Opera also composers use different singer voice types to also create a dramatic or comedic effect. How do the singers’ voices impact the audience experiencing the opera?
Opera singers sound very different from pop or rock and roll singers because they are not using microphones. Instead, they use their bodies as amplifiers. Opera singers have the rare gift of being able to make their voices soar over an orchestra and a chorus with- out any electronic support.
Opera is often in another language. It was the most popular art form in Europe before movies, so operas were written in the language of the people who first attended them. Read the synopsis and listen to the musical excerpts before coming to the performance. When you attend a performance at The Civic theatre there are supertitles above the stage for audience members to read along as the story is performed.
The opera you are going to attend is a live performance. The singers are as aware of you as you are of them. Make sure that any distractions (mobile phones, pagers or food) are turned off and put away so you can give the performance your full attention. You are going to have an amazing time!
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SAN DIEGO OPERA
Ian D. Campbell
Artistic and General Director
Nicolas M. Reveles
Geisel Director of Education and Outreach
Angela Montague Kanish
Associate Director of Education, Operations
Brian Pedersen
Education Tour Manager
Cynthia Stokes
Associate Director of Education,
School and Community Programs
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18th Floor, Civic Center Plaza
1200 Third Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101-4112
Tel: (619) 232-7636
Fax: (619) 231-6915
E-mail: educate@sdopera.com
Website: www.sdopera.com
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The 2008 - 2009 San Diego Opera Ensemble Tour is made
possible by a generous gift from The Maxwell H. Gluck Foundation.
Corporate Supporters of OPERATION: OPERA!
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