Così fan tutte

The title translates literally to "Thus do all [women]," but it is usually rendered more colloquially as "Women are like that." The 1790 opera focuses on a cynical bet between two officers to test their fiancées' fidelity.

The libretto was written by the famous Italian poet Lorenzo Da Ponte, who also collaborated with Mozart on "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni." Da Ponte based the story on a real-life incident he witnessed in Vienna.

While initially successful after its 1790 premiere, the opera fell heavily out of favor during the 19th century because its plot was considered immoral and scandalous. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that it regained its status as a beloved masterpiece.

The opera premiered on January 26, 1790, at the Burgtheater in Vienna. Its run was cut drastically short because Emperor Joseph II, who had commissioned the work, died suddenly just a few weeks later in February.