Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Premiered 1790 in Vienna

Directed by Rob Herriot
Conducted by Gordon Gerrard

Approximate Running Time: 2 hours 55 minutes

Mozart’s sparkling comedy about love and human nature unfolds against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian wilderness. In NUOVA Vocal Arts’ 2026 Festival production, Così fan tutte is reimagined at an elegant 1930s resort hotel on the edge of untamed landscape – where romance is as unpredictable as the frontier itself.

Playful, stylish, and surprisingly modern, this production explores the delicate balance of trust, temptation, and self-discovery. Beneath its wit lies a profound meditation on vulnerability, forgiveness, and the art of laughing at ourselves.

Under the direction of Rob Herriot, with musical leadership by Gordon Gerrard, NUOVA’s emerging artists bring fresh vitality and emotional nuance to Mozart’s masterwork.

Set in the pre-war 1930s, sophisticated Italian sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella arrive in Canada for a luxurious holiday retreat. Enchanted by their surroundings, they quickly fall for two charming young Mounties.

But love is soon put to the test.

As part of a mischievous wager, the officers pretend to answer a call to duty, only to return in disguise as rugged log drivers determined to woo the very women who pledged them fidelity. What follows is a witty and increasingly tangled game of deception.

Will the sisters be fooled?
And once the truth is revealed, can love return to what it once was — or must it transform?

Composed at the height of Mozart’s creative brilliance and premiered just one year before his untimely death, Così fan tutte dazzles with elegance, wit, and emotional depth.

Mozart balances buoyant comedy with moments of exquisite tenderness. Radiant ensembles and virtuosic arias reveal characters who are not merely comic archetypes, but deeply human — flawed, searching, and achingly sincere. Beneath the laughter lies a gentle, knowing exploration of the fragility of the heart.

An elegant 1930s Canadian resort hotel perched at the edge of wilderness — where polished civility meets untamed nature.

Scenic Design by Sheldon Johnson