Vancouver Opera brings Mozart’s comic masterpiece back to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre after a 20-year absence, with an all-Canadian cast and contemporary West Coast twist.
After more than two decades away from Vancouver stages, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s beloved opera buffa Così fan tutte returns tonight to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, presented by Vancouver Opera in a fresh, Canadian-themed production that promises to breathe new life into this 18th-century exploration of love, fidelity, and human nature.
Running from February 5–15, 2026, this production marks a significant homecoming for one of opera’s most psychologically complex comedies. Director Robert Herriot helms the production alongside conductor Leslie Dala, leading an all-Canadian cast through Mozart’s sublime score and Lorenzo Da Ponte’s witty libretto.
The Story: A Bet, a Disguise, and the Nature of Love
At its heart, Così fan tutte (literally “Thus do all women” or “Women are all alike”) tells the story of a cynical wager. The seasoned Don Alfonso bets his young friends Ferrando and Guglielmo that their fiancées—sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella—will prove unfaithful when tested. To win the bet, the men pretend to go off to war, then return in disguise to seduce each other’s partners.
With help from the cleverly opportunistic maid Despina, the elaborate ruse unfolds in a whirlwind of mistaken identities, tender arias, and comedic chaos. What begins as a simple test becomes a profound exploration of human desire, constancy, and the unpredictable nature of the heart.
Written late in Mozart’s short life and premiered in Vienna in 1790, Così fan tutte features some of the composer’s most exquisite music—luminous melodies that add emotional depth and psychological nuance to Da Ponte’s sharp comedy. The same creative team behind Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro crafted an opera that is simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking, superficial and profound.
An All-Canadian Cast
This production showcases some of Canada’s finest operatic talent:
- Jamie Groote as Fiordiligi
- Alex Hetherington as Dorabella
- Tracy Dahl as the scene-stealing maid Despina
- Owen McCausland as Ferrando
- Clarence Frazer as Guglielmo
- Daniel Okulitch as the cynical Don Alfonso
The opera will be sung in Italian with English projected titles, making Mozart’s intricate wordplay and emotional subtleties accessible to all audience members.
A West Coast Canadian Interpretation
While Vancouver Opera has kept specific details of the Canadian reimagining under wraps, this fresh interpretation promises to cast the opera’s timeless themes in a contemporary West Coast Canadian light—a bold move that could make the 236-year-old work feel remarkably current.
The production’s approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes (including a 25-minute intermission) will give audiences plenty of time to immerse themselves in Mozart’s musical genius and the opera’s emotional rollercoaster.
Performance Details
Dates:
- February 5, 2026 (Preview)
- February 7, 2026, 7:30 PM
- February 12, 2026
- February 15, 2026
Venue:
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC
Tickets:
Ranging from $25 to $240, available through the Vancouver Opera website or by calling the VO Ticket Centre at 604-683-0222 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM).
Why This Opera Matters
Così fan tutte occupies a unique place in the operatic canon. Long dismissed by some critics as frivolous or even misogynistic, modern interpretations have revealed it as perhaps Mozart’s most sophisticated character study—a work that questions social conventions, gender expectations, and the very nature of romantic love.
The opera asks uncomfortable questions: Can we truly know another person? Is constancy possible or even desirable? Who are we when we remove our social masks? These themes resonate as powerfully today as they did in 1790, making Così fan tutte ripe for contemporary reinterpretation.
With its long-awaited return to Vancouver and a production that promises to honor both Mozart’s vision and contemporary sensibilities, this Così fan tutte offers opera lovers and newcomers alike a chance to experience one of the art form’s most perfect marriages of music, drama, and psychological insight.
Westcoast German Media will be attending tonight’s performance and will share their review following the opening.
For more information or to purchase tickets:
Vancouver Opera
604-683-0222
online@vancouveropera.ca
vancouveropera.ca
Cover Image (clockwise) ©VancouverOpera – 1. Owen McCausland as Ferrando, Tracy Dahl as Despina, and Clarence Frazer as Guglielmo. 2. Daniel Okulitch as Don Alfonso, Alex Hetherington as Dorabella, Tracy Dahl as Despina, and Clarence Frazer as Guglielmo. 3. Owen McCausland as Ferrando, Daniel Okulitch as Don Alfonso, Jamie Groote as Fiordiligi, Alex Hetherington as Dorabella, and Clarence Frazer as Guglielmo. 4. Alex Hetherington as Dorabella, Clarence Frazer as Guglielmo, Owen McCausland as Ferrando, Jamie Groote as Fiordiligi, Tracy Dahl as Despina, Daniel Curalli as Larry, the Bartender, and Daniel Okulitch as Don Alfonso. Vancouver Opera’s 2026 production of Così fan tutte. Photos by Emily Cooper
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