WARNING: Spoiler Alert, if you have not seen this version of the opera, just bookmark this page and get back to it after watching!
Vancouver, BC – Monday, February 9th, 2026 – Hint: You will see Mounties, Lumberjacks, and a big red canoe in this Mozart’s Masterpiece – I recently had the pleasure of attending a Canadian production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, and I’m still buzzing from the experience. For those unfamiliar with this operatic gem, let me set the stage.
Mozart’s Original Masterpiece
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed Così fan tutte in 1789-1790, when he was 33-34 years old—remarkably, just a year before his untimely death at 35. This was his third and final collaboration with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, following The Marriage of Figaro (1786) and Don Giovanni (1787). The opera premiered in Vienna in January 1790, making it one of Mozart’s last operatic works and a crowning achievement in his exploration of human nature and relationships.
The original story is a cynical comedy about fidelity and love. Two young officers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, are engaged to sisters Dorabella and Fiordiligi. When the worldly Don Alfonso bets them that their fiancées will prove unfaithful, the men disguise themselves as exotic Albanian suitors and attempt to seduce each other’s beloved. With the help of the clever maid Despina, the “Albanians” succeed, proving Alfonso’s dark thesis: “così fan tutte” (“thus do all women”). The opera ends ambiguously, with the couples reunited but the damage done.
Pre-Show Talk: A Perfect Introduction
Before the curtain rose, I attended the pre-show talk at 6:30pm in the Mezzanine seating of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Led by Ashley Daniel Foot, Vancouver Opera’s Director of Engagement and Civic Practice, this exploration of Mozart’s “most glittering—and most unsettling—opera” provided invaluable context for the evening ahead. If you’re new to opera or simply want to deepen your appreciation before the performance, this pre-show talk is an excellent practice. It’s particularly valuable for those wanting to unpack the layers of meaning in Mozart’s work before experiencing it live—a service that publications like Westcoast German News appreciates for their culturally curious readership. The talk included mentions about consent, the bet that started it all and what to watch out for during this production.
The Canadian Reimagining
This production brilliantly transported the story to the Canadian wilderness in Banff, Alberta in the 1930’s. The officers became Mounties, their suitors transformed into rugged lumberjacks, and the Italian sisters reimagined as two beautiful Canadian sisters with one being a red-head and the other a blonde. The production made ingenious use of a moving stage, featuring a magnificent red canoe that carried the Mounties away “to war” at the beginning and—in a wonderfully subversive twist—returned at the end to allow the ladies and the maid to escape the entire chaotic mess the men had created. This ending gave the women agency that Mozart’s original denied them, and I found it both refreshing and thematically powerful.
An Unforgettable Performance
I’d been warned by someone who’d seen an earlier production that it dragged so badly they fell asleep. They must have seen a different version, because there wasn’t a single moment when I could close my eyes—I didn’t want to miss a second of the action unfolding before me.
The production was populated with rich detail: a bartender serving drinks, a pianist on stage playing as the “bar pianist,” and patrons who filled the bar scene with life and energy. These ensemble members weren’t just background—they joined in singing the rousing send-off song as the Mounties departed for war, adding layers of community and authenticity to the Canadian setting.
The maid absolutely stole the show with her comic timing and vocal prowess, embodying Despina’s mischievous spirit while adding a distinctly Canadian flair. But what truly elevated the evening was sitting near a group of friends of one of the performers. Their enthusiastic reactions—yelling, laughing, gasping with excitement—were utterly contagious, spreading waves of joy throughout our section of the theater. Their genuine delight reminded everyone that opera should be fun, engaging, and emotionally immediate.
This production proves that Mozart’s exploration of love, loyalty, and human folly translates beautifully across centuries and continents. Whether you’re an opera aficionado or a first-timer, this Canadianized Così fan tutte offers something special: a classic work reimagined with wit, heart, and a red canoe.
For ticket information and upcoming performances, visit Vancouver Opera
TAGS: CosiFanTutte #VancouverOpera #CanadianOpera #MozartOpera #OperaReview #YVRArts #WestcoastGermanNews #ElkePorter
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