Opera Out of Opera 2 brought its innovative spirit to Porto, making a vibrant stop at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo (ESMAE). On Saturday, 26 October, audiences gathered at the Teatro Helena Sá e Costa for a bold reinterpretation of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, reimagined through a contemporary lens. This production seamlessly blended opera with modern movement, elements of circus performance, and immersive theatrical storytelling, offering spectators a multisensory and emotionally engaging experience.
Breaking the traditional boundaries of opera, the project invited the audience into a specially designed pre-show installation—a fully immersive room that introduced key themes from Così fan tutte. Visitors explored questions of fidelity, identity, and the roles we play in love and society. This interactive environment encouraged reflection and personal connection, transforming passive spectators into active participants in the opera’s emotional journey.
Così fan tutte, composed by W. A. Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, is a witty yet psychologically intricate exploration of romantic relationships. Beneath its surface comedy lies a poignant meditation on desire, loyalty, and the fragility of human emotion. The opera tells the story of two young couples whose affections are tested through a scheme orchestrated by a cynical philosopher, exposing both the absurdity and complexity of love.
Though long overshadowed by its more dramatic counterparts, Così fan tutte is now widely celebrated for its elegant score, brilliant ensembles, and daringly modern insight into human behavior. Its blend of irony and sincerity, framed within exquisite music, makes it uniquely suited to reinterpretation. The OOO2 production in Porto highlighted just how timeless—and timely—Mozart’s questions about love and identity still are today.
