Cosi fan tutte - Amadeus Mozart

The best way to summarize Cosi Fan Tutte is to call it a fiance swap. The plot centers around two couples, Ferrando & Dorabella, and Guglielmo & Fiordiligi. Both pairs are happily engaged and can’t wait to spend happily ever after together.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, their friend Don Alfonso is a cynic and claims there is no such thing as a faithful woman. Once the ladies depart, Don Alfonso bets the two men that he can prove his point in just one day. Following his plan, by this time tomorrow, the two ladies will prove themselves unfaithful. The men accept this wager.

To set up the deception, the men pretend to be called away to war. After tearful goodbyes, they don terrible (or really good depending on how you look at it) and return as “The Albanians”. They each then begin to attempt to seduce the other man’s fiance. Fiordiligi is not having it. She angrily tells the men to leave as she is faithful to Guglielmo (Come Scoglio- Like a rock). 

The songs you will here today are all from the Fiordiligi/Ferrando part of the story. Ferrando continues to try and woo Fiordiligi but she is proving much harder to sway than her sister. To Ferrando's dismay, Dorabella caves to Guglielmo's advances quite quickly. Ferrando tries again with the aria, Ah, io veggio- (Ah, I see it), to try and woo her. This time, he brings all the charm and finally manages to sweep her off her feet. And when Fiordiligi finally falls, she falls fast and hard. They sing Fra gli amplessi- (In the embraces), as they fall into each other’s arms.

Now both men have wooed the other man’s fiancé. Both men are angry that their fiancés were wooed (even though they were really putting the pressure on thick), and Don Alfonso is quite proud of himself for proving his point so successfully. It’s time for the original non-Albanians to return and catch their women ‘in the act’. When they do, the women realize they have been duped. Do the couples switch back to their original pairs? Do they remain in their swapped formation? Is everyone so mad about the situation that both couples break up? I’m going to leave that part a mystery. How would you want it to end?

Don Giovanni- Amadeus Mozart

Like all Mozart operas, Don Giovanni, has a ton of characters, complex plots and subplots, and so many varying relationship and class dynamics at play, that it would take a novel to write it all out. Since we are singing two songs from this show, I’m going to attempt to explain just the context of each song, so you don’t have to try and remember so many details.

Fuggi, crudele, fuggi- (Flee, cruel one, flee)- Donna Anna has had a rough night. A strange man broke into her room and attempted to get in bed with her. She screamed and ran outside with the stranger in hot pursuit. Her father hears the commotion and runs to her defense. Her father and the stranger duel and her father is killed in the fight. The stranger has now run off into the night leaving her in shock at everything that has just happened. She swears vengeance against the stranger while her fiancé, Don Ottavio, tried to comfort her.

Protegga il giusto cielo- (May the heavens protect us)- In a short time there has been an attempted rape, a murder, a runaway husband, and a nearly interrupted wedding. Three of our characters, Donna Anna, Ottavio, and Donna Elvira are starting to suspect that all this chaos was probably caused by only one man, Don Giovanni. They have found themselves at a wedding feast Don Giovanni is throwing to try and woo the young bride away from her husband. The trio puts on disguises, prays for protection, and heads into the party to track down Don Giovanni.

Cinderella- Rodgers & Hammerstein

It's the classic tale we all know and love, but now with music! The original show was written for television with Julie Andrews playing Cinderella. There have been many versions since with many famous casts both in movies and on the Broadway stage. Because who doesn’t love a Cinderella story?

Cinderella is not having a good time with her step mother and sisters. Left alone after a long day of playing servant to the rest of her family, Cinderella dreams of what it would be like to be anything else in the world, (In My Own Little Corner).

News of the Prince’s upcoming ball is all anyone can talk about, but Cinderella doesn’t hold much hope of attending. Her family leaves for the ball hoping to catch the Prince’s eye and Cinderella is left alone again. Suddenly, her Fairy Godmother appears. She begins singing Impossible; It’s Possible, as she magically transforms Cinderella’s dress, turns a pumpkin into a coach and sends her away to the ball, warning her not to stay past midnight.

At the ball, the Prince is not impressed by any of the ladies in attendance. Then Cinderella enters and immediately attracts everyone’s attention. The Prince is intrigued and they dance together. They fall in love immediately singing Ten Minutes Ago, marveling at how so much can change in just 10 minutes.

Cinderella’s step sisters don't recognize Cinderella, but are immediately jealous of this beautiful girl who captured the Prince’s attention. They sing Step Sister's Lament, wondering why the Prince would prefer this beautiful creature over a “usual” girl like them.

Fight songs

What is this feeling? from Wicked - Whenever Lexi and Carole perform together, they must sing this famous duet from Wicked. Its a classic tale of loathing at first sight. Glinda and Elphaba are assigned to be roommates. So even though they each are the opposite of the other's ideal friend and roommate, they have to learn how to get along.

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Take me or Leave Me from Rent - This lover's quarrel illustrates what happens when opposite attracts. Love conquers all, except for those annoying habits your partner has that just drive you nuts!

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Les contes d’Hoffmann- Jacques Offenbach

This show is based on three short stories by the writer E.T.A. Hoffmann (the protagonist of our opera!). And these stories are strange! I'll do my best to summarize the plot, but with Hoffmann, its best to just go with it and not examine the plot too hard.  Poor Hoffmann is set up for failure right at the beginning of this show. The first act opens with The Muse promising the audience that she will draw Hoffmann’s attention and make him give up all other loves, devoting himself solely to her, Poetry. She disguises herself as Nicklausse, Hoffmann’s closest friend and the seduction begins!

At the tavern that evening, Hoffmann is entertaining some friends by telling the legend of Kleinzach the dwarf (Il était une fois à la cour d’Eisenach- Once upon a time at the court of Eisenach.) After the story, a friend convinces Hoffmann to tell the tales of his 3 greatest loves. Each of the following acts is a different love story.

His first love is named Olympia. They meet in a scientist's parlor in Paris. Here Hoffmann is tricked into buying a pair of magical glasses that make Olympia appear to be a real woman, though she is actually a lifelike mechanical doll. Hoffmann believes his affections are reciprocated by Olympia even though as she performs for the group she repeatedly unwinds needs to be wound up again by her maker to finish the song (Doll Song).  Hoffmann remains convinced that this is his one true love despite multiple warnings from others until he suddenly trips and breaks his magic glasses. With the spell broken, he sees Olympia for what she truly is, a simple wind up doll.

Act 2 centers around Antonia and Crespel. Hoffmann and Antonia once were in love, but Crespel, Antonia’s father, separated the couple and hid his daughter from Hoffmann. Antonia is a gifted singer and Hoffmann encouraged her to have a musical career, but Crespel didn’t approval. On top of separating the couple, Crespel forbids Antonia from singing, citing a mysterious illness Antonia has. Since this is an opera, she sings anyway. In her aria Elle a fui, la touterelle (She fled the dove), Antonia pines for her lover’s return.

Crespel leaves and Hoffmann sneaks in. He and Antonia sing C’est une chanson d’amour (It’s a love song) as they are reunited. From here, things get a little mystical. Hoffmann learns of Antonia’s illness and begs her to give up her musical career. But a strange character, Dr. Miracle, enters. He convinces Antonia that Hoffman only loved her for her looks and convinces her to keep singing. She sings until she dies at the end of the act. A victim of her strange illness.

The last of Hoffmann’s 3 loves is Giuliette. The act opens with Hoffmann and his friend Nicklausse (The Muse in disguise) singing the famous Barcarolle (Belle Nuit, ô nuit d’amour-Beautiful night, oh night of love.) Giuliette is a Venetian courtesan and Hoffmann immediately falls in love. He thinks she returns his affections, but she is actually seducing him under orders from a new enemy, Captain D’Apertutto. Guiliette will earn herself a diamond if she can steal Hoffmann’s reflection from a mirror. After much chaos typical of this opera, Hoffmann gives Giuliette his reflection because he just can’t resist her. Giuliette immediately abandons him for her promised diamond.

The show ends with Hoffmann swearing off love. Nicklausse reveals his true identity as The Muse and Hoffmann pledges himself to the one love that hasn’t let him down; Poetry.

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The Sound of Music- Rodgers & Hammerstein

Our second Rodgers & Hammerstein show of the night! Like Cinderella, The Sound of Music permeates our culture. I know I can’t hear any of these songs without picturing the movie in my mind. We are going to perform four of the many timeless songs from this show. Sit back, enjoy, and imagine being serenaded by Julie Andrews herself in the Austrian countryside. Oh! And feel free to sing along!

• I Have Confidence 

• My favorite things

• Lonely Goatherd

• Edelweiss 

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Thank you!!

We want to thank all of you for joining us this evening. We hope you had an enjoyable evening with us. Cheers!

​While this concert is free, we do take donations. It is with your support that we can continue our mission - to make opera accessible to everyone. If you would like to donate, you can place cash in the jars on the tables near the stage or just click the button below to donate online! We also accept payment via Vemno @overdressedduo. For a check donation or if you would like a receipt for your donation, please speak with one of our volunteers wearing the pink volunteer lanyards. We thank you for your support.

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