Così fan tutte begins with a bet. According to the cynical philosopher Don Alfonso, if the fiancées of two young men are put to the test, they will not stay loyal to their partners for long. What follows is a masterclass in meddling as Don Alfonso, aided and abetted by the ladies’ maid Despina, act as the foil to the lovers’ naivety, delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in the process! We caught up with Quirijn de Lang who sings Don Alfonso and Gillene Butterfield who plays Despina to find out what they’re enjoying most about being the schemers in Mozart’s masterpiece.
When did you first encounter Così fan tutte?
Qurijn: I first did Così fan tutte in music college in Philadelphia when I sang Guglielmo (one of the lovers). Funnily enough, this was also the first role I sang at Opera North! It’s really special to return to this brilliant production.
Gillene: I have a soft spot for Despina, as she’s one of the first roles I ever learnt at music college. Since joining Opera North, I’ve been involved in this production several times, both in the Chorus of Opera North and also covering Despina. I’m beyond excited to get to play her in this revival with this wonderful cast.
Have you worked together before?
Quirijn: Yes! We appeared together in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, where Gillene played the pivotal role of Rose so beautifully - and I was her rather lecherous boss who tried to seduce her with dreams of fame and fortune! We were also both in The Merry Widow and, most recently, A Little Night Music. It’s lovely to be able to play off someone you know so well, especially in these two roles of the 'schemers'.
Gillene: It’s great to work with Quirijn again, after he tried to woo me in Street Scene. Don Alfonso and Despina are both sharp-minded and great foils for each other and it’s been great to plot and scheme with Quirijn!
Tell us about your characters.
Quirijn: Don Alfonso is an 18th-century philosopher. He devises the bet between him and the boys to test their girlfriends' faithfulness and also, secretly, to investigate ‘the human condition’. By the end, the lovers have experienced all the emotions of real relationships, but Alfonso is left alone with his sterile philosophy. In that way, he fits the definition of a catalyst: creating many reactions while staying untouched by them himself.
Gillene: Despina has a great confidence and strong sense of self. She’s the only character who is a servant or seen to be ‘lower class’ among the six of them, but she still speaks frankly to her two mistresses about her opinions on men and doesn’t hold back! She also holds her own with the philosopher Don Alfonso who plays a risky game with all their emotions just to prove his point.
What do you particularly like about this production?
Qurijn: I love the fact it really focuses on the characters as they move through this emotional maze - and the brilliant thing I think the director Tim Albery has done is to make every reaction meaningful. For example, the boys can be feeling trepidation about having to do the next task in fooling their loved ones, but that same reaction reads like shyness to the ladies, and so it makes sense from both sides.
Gillene: I like this production as it’s played for real. The stakes are high, and the comedy comes from the situations the characters are placed in and from the pressure Don Alfonso places them all under. The set and costumes are fantastic too!
You can catch Quirijn and Gillene in Opera North’s production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte at Leeds Grand Theatre on Friday 23 February. The show then tours to Nottingham Theatre Royal, Newcastle Theatre Royal, The Lowry in Salford and Hull New Theatre. All performances start at 7pm.
Tickets are available HERE from with Try it ON seats available for just £20 each for anyone new to opera.
Header Image: Heather Lowe as Dorabella, Henry Neill as Guglielmo, Quirijn de Lang as Don Alfonso, Gillene Butterfield as Despina, Alexandra Lowe as Fiordiligi and Anthony Gregory as Ferrando. (James Glossop
