‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ Set at Methodist Church for Four Performances

Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera will present ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ in four performances at the United Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. Performances run Friday, January 29 and February 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 31 and February 7 at 3:30 p.m.   The opera is one of the three Mozart opera written by librettist Lorenzo De Ponte, which also include ‘Le nozze di Figaro’ and ‘Don Giovanni.’ The opera buffa, translated ‘Women are like that,’ takes as its theme ‘fianc’e swapping,’ a topic that dates back to the 13th century. It includes elements from Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses.’   The stage is set in the first scene when two army officers (Ferrando and Gulielmo) claim that their fianc’es (Dorabella and Fiordiligi) will be eternally faithful. Don Alfonso joins the discussion and lays a wager with the two officers, claiming he can prove in a day’s time that these two women, like all women, are fickle.   The action ensues with plenty of disguise, self-interest, buffoonery, and some beautiful music, including the memorable aria ‘In uomini, in soldati, sperare fedelt’? ‘In men, in soldiers, you hope for faithfulness?’   The cast includes: Linda Jackson, January 29 and February 7; Diana Briscoe, January 31 and February 5; Miguel Vargas, January 31 and February 5; James Salazar, January 29 and February 7; Nandani Sinha, January 29 and February 7; Katherine Scheaffer, January 31 and February 5; Elizabeth Harmetz, January 31 and February 5; Xin Xin Martin, January 29 and February 7; Sang ‘Sam’ Wook Kwon, January 29 and February 7; Matthew Acuff, January 31 and February 5; Jay Stephenson, all performances.   Galina Barskaya is the music director and Jonathan Sharp is stage director.   Founded in 2008 by sopranos Ella Lee and Linda Jackson, LAMO brings affordable local professional opera performances to Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Suggested donations: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Contact: 310-570-6448 or visit www.losangelesmet.com.   The Oak Room at 1035 Swarthmore is offering a three-course dinner of an appetizer, entr’e and dessert for $34, and a free glass of house wine for opera-goers. Doors open at 5 p.m.