CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — West Texas A&M University Opera’s performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” will round out the spring season from April 25 through April 28.

According to WT officials, the performance will be staged at 7:30 p.m. on April 25; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. on April 27; and 2:30 p.m. on April 28 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus. Officials stated tickets are $15 or free for WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold Card.

“‘Così’ is one of Mozart’s most brilliant compositions; the music in this show is just incredible,” said Sarah Beckham-Turner, WT Opera director and assistant professor of voice in WT’s School of Music. “Written in 1790, Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo da Ponte created a hilarious show that is, well, degrading to women. As a woman who is directing ‘Così,’ I think it is important to shape the piece to highlight the strengths of women and not degrade them.”

WT officials also noted the meaning of the opera with the title translating to “Women are like that” and the story finds two young men, Ferrando and Guglielmo being convinced by their friend Don Alfonso that their faithful fiancées are, indeed, fickle. The men then fake being called away to war but return to the town in disguise to attempt to seduce the other’s lover.

“There are a few lines that are, like, oh. OK,” said Abigail Hite, a senior music education major from Nashville, who plays Dorabella. “I explain the plot to people, and they look a little scared until I tell them it’s a comedy and really hilarious. It’s like a sitcom. Everyone knows it’s dumb, and that’s where the comedy comes in.”

Beckham-Turner noted she shifted the time period to 1967 and the characters reflect the long-haired and tie-dyed aesthetic of the time.

“I chose to set this piece in 1967 because it was such an incredible year of change in our society, and it aligns with the Vietnam War,” Beckham-Turner said.

Officials listed the cast members and chorus members for all productions including:

• Cast members for the April 25 show and April 27 matinee include:
  • Brooklynn King, a sophomore music performance major from Pearland, as Fiordiligi;
  • McKenna Cooper, a senior music therapy major from Midlothian, as Dorabella;
  • Erin Hinds, a senior music performance major from Amarillo, as Despina;
  • Julian Ayala, a senior music technology major from Fort Worth, as Ferrando;
  • Kyler Hilton, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo, as Guglielmo; and
  • Oscar Hample, a senior musical theatre major from Wasilla, Alaska, as Don Alfonso.
• Cast members for the April 27 evening performance and April 28 matinee include:
  • Abigail Hite, a senior music education major from Nashville, as Dorabella;
  • Taylor Lindley, a graduate student in music performance from Pampa, as Fiordiligi;
  • Sarah Estes, a sophomore music major from Turpin, Oklahoma, as Despina;
  • Moreno, a junior music education major from Canyon;
  • Eduardo Guaderrama, a graduate student in conducting from Friona, as Guglielmo; and
  • Kelton Harbison, a sophomore music education major from Canyon, as Don Alfonso.
• Chorus members for all productions include:
  • Juliana Rodriguez, a junior musical theatre major from El Paso;
  • Joli Goebel, a senior music major from Amarillo;
  • Korbin Cole, a freshman music education major from Pampa;
  • Elliott Lewis, a freshman music education major from College Station;
  • Brendan King, a freshman music education major from Pearland;
  • Devin Lindley, a freshman musical theatre major from Pampa;
  • Zachary Todd, a May 2023 graduate in musical theatre from Flower Mound;
  • Faith Powell, a junior music education major from Amarillo;
  • Connor Cooksey, a junior music education major from San Antonio;
  • Lia Gonzales, a freshman music therapy major from Brenham;
  • Sarah Boydston, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo; and
  • Zoe Kizziar, a sophomore music education major from Canyon.

Those wishing to attend can purchase tickets online for all four shows.