David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education

Michael L. MaelExecutive Director

Francesca ZambelloArtistic Advisor

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.

Support for Family and Opera Look-Ins is provided by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is made possible through the generous support of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

International festivals at the Kennedy Center are generously supported by the HRH Foundation.

Additional support for The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna is provided by Michaeland Noémi Neidorff and The HonorableNancy G. Brinker.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Support for Washington National Opera Education Programs is provided by JPMorgan Chase Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Jacob & Charlotte Lehrman Foundation; National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs;U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; The Washington Post; Waterford Foundation; and Verizon.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. ARTSEDGE is a part of Thinkfi nity.org, a consortium of free educational Web sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center atwww.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

©2012 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing itwith friends!

This special news report is all about opera and the people who make it happen. Stay tuned to fi nd out what it takes to put these musical masterpieces onstage while watching scenes from Così fan tutte,a comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A few more things for you to know!

About the composer…Even if you’ve never heard classical music before, odds are you’ve heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). Mozart began composing at age fi ve and went on to become a master musician, writing symphonies, operas, and more—all in just 35 years of life.Così fan tutte is one of three operas he created with the writerLorenzo Da Ponte, who wrote the words to the songs you’ll hear today.

For Teachers and ParentsHere are some thoughts and activities to share with kids before the curtain rises and a little bit of homework fun for when it comes down.

Before the Look-InPre-opera prepAsk students what they think the experience of opera might be like.What sights and sounds do they expect? Be sure to point out thatoperas are similar to movies; they have something for everyone(romance, comedy, action, thrills).

Playlist shuffl eHave kids consider what type of music they enjoy. Do any of their favorite songs tell a story?Ask them to think about how this idea can apply to an opera.

Directed by Andrea Dorf McGray

With members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the Washington National Opera Orchestra

Conducted by Israel Gursky

Presented in the Kennedy Center Opera House

5 6

Signing Off

After the Look-InMasqueradeMany of the characters in Così fan tutte enjoy putting on masks and pretending to be someone else. Have younger students create a mask and pretend to be someone they’d like to be when they grow up. For older students, discuss how masks can be both literal and symbolic. How do disguises create trouble in Così fan tutte? Can they create trouble in real life?

No “I” in operaReview the “Opera Checklist” with students. Ask them to consider the exact responsibilities each “Opera-Maker” has for the production. Discuss how all the opera-makers must work together to make a production come to life onstage.

Fun withinstruments

Today, students will hear a full-sized orchestra. Can students list the four orchestra families? (Answer: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.) Ask students what instruments they can identify by ear. Listen for these unique sounds during the show.

BREAKING NEWS…

ozart’s music helped pave the way for many composers to come, and his works are among the most performed in concert halls and opera houses around the world.

Recognize the news anchor?Does the face behind the news desk look familiar? That’s because she’s Maureen Bunyan, anchor for Washington D.C.’s ABC7/WJLA-TV and host of the 6 p.m. weeknight news. A broadcaster for more than 30 years,Ms. Bunyan has received many awards, including seven local Emmys®.

We’ve brought in a team of special reporters to explain opera’s many different features. Let’s meet the team now…

The Opera-Makers News Team

Mo and Laurence will give you some background about opera and Così fan tutte, our special “example opera” of the day.

It takes a whole lot of effort to create an opera. Sometimes as many as 70 people can be working during a single performance. Below is an “Opera Checklist,” to give you an idea of all the things you need to put on a show like Così fan tutte. If you see or hear any of the items on this list during the Look-In, check them off, just like a stage manager would do during the performance.

2 3 4

A Kennedy Center Exclusive Report: Making Opera

Who are the characters? Operatic music calls for many different kinds of singing, from the very high to the very low, and singers tend to fall into separate categories, based roughly on how high or low they can sing. Così fan tutte features six different characters, each with his or her own voice category or type:

Fiordiligi, a young woman (soprano – the highest female voice)

Dorabella, her sister (mezzo-soprano – a middle-range female voice)

Guglielmo, a soldier, Fiordiligi’s boyfriend (baritone – a middle-range male voice)

Ferrando, a soldier, Dorabella’s boyfriend (tenor – the highestmale voice)

Don Alfonso, an older gentleman (bass – the lowest male voice)

Despina, a maid (soprano)

What’s the story? Così fan tutte is a classic “opera buffa” (BOOF-ah) or “funny opera” in Italian. The story features two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, who, along with their older friend Don Alfonso, hatch a plan to test the faithfulness of their girlfriends, Dorabella and Fiordiligi. The soldiers pretend to go off to war, only to return disguised as mysterious strangers. Each woos the opposite girl, with a little help from Despina, the girls’ maid. All of the characters then try to teach each other a few things about love and truth during one hilarious day.

Things to listen for: u how the musicians help set a mood by

playing or singing extra fast, extra slow, extra loud, or extra soft

u how the instruments play along with the singers and support them, while occasionally doing their own thing and playing a separate tune

u how characters often appear to besinging and speaking at the same time

What is an opera anyway? Opera is a story told through music.Instead of speaking, the characters sing through their thoughts and emotions. Sometimes the characters sing by themselves (this is called an “aria”—justlike our performance artist!—AH-ree-yah), and sometimes they sing in groups oftwo or more. Così fan tutte can feature six characters singing at once. There’s also an orchestra that uses different combinations of instruments at different times.

MoMo, like the legendary Mozart, is a composer and conductor. She’s all about music—how the notes on a page become the sounds you hear coming from the singers and the orchestra. She’ll show you how music works.

LaurenceLaurence is a poet—he makes up stories and rhymes. Poets like Laurence provide the words or libretto (pronounced lee-BRETT-oh) for the music you’ll hear. (Often opera is presented in a different language, like Italian or Geman. But don’t worry, there’s an English translation during the show.)

AriaAria takes center stage at the opera. She’s a singer, she’s a dancer, she’s an actress—she does it all! Today, Aria will guide you through the business of performing Così fan tutte (pronounced KOH-zee fahn TOOT-eh.)

ReggRegg has the double role of director/designer. He oversees everything that happens onstage (the singing, the character’s movements, the placement of props and set pieces, etc.). As a designer, he’s also responsible for the show’s overall look onstage.

GigiGigi is a stage manager, which means she keeps the performance running smoothly. Her special headset and microphone keep her in touch with everyoneduring the show.She’ll update you on what it takes to keep a performance rolling.

SPECIAL BULLETIN: NEWS FLASH:

The First Reporters on the Scene Many Talents Needed to Pull Off Opera

n Orchestra Players Those musicians in the dark pit at the foot of the stage.

Their instruments keep the opera on its musical feet and

their conductor—the person on the podium in front of

them—helps keep them in time with the singers.

n Props Little items onstage like phones, coffee cups, etc. that

are touched and used by the singers at certain times

and chosen especially by the director. Watch out for

the special magnet prop at the end of Act I that’s used

as a different form of “medicine.” n Sets

The stuff that gives the opera a sense of place,

including the walls, the windows, and the furniture.

n Costumes Anything the characters wear, including hats, shoes,

jewelry, even mustaches. Sometimes designers have

to gather information about what the characters are

wearing from the words that are sung in the opera.

n Lights Special lights set up all around the theater that

help you see the action onstage and give you

clues about the story, such as the time of day.

We’ve brought in a team of special reporters to explain opera’s many different features. Let’s meet the team now…

The Opera-Makers News Team

Mo and Laurence will give you some background about opera and Così fan tutte, our special “example opera” of the day.

It takes a whole lot of effort to create an opera. Sometimes as many as 70 people can be working during a single performance. Below is an “Opera Checklist,” to give you an idea of all the things you need to put on a show like Così fan tutte. If you see or hear any of the items on this list during the Look-In, check them off, just like a stage manager would do during the performance.

2 3 4

A Kennedy Center Exclusive Report: Making Opera

Who are the characters? Operatic music calls for many different kinds of singing, from the very high to the very low, and singers tend to fall into separate categories, based roughly on how high or low they can sing. Così fan tutte features six different characters, each with his or her own voice category or type:

Fiordiligi, a young woman (soprano – the highest female voice)

Dorabella, her sister (mezzo-soprano – a middle-range female voice)

Guglielmo, a soldier, Fiordiligi’s boyfriend (baritone – a middle-range male voice)

Ferrando, a soldier, Dorabella’s boyfriend (tenor – the highestmale voice)

Don Alfonso, an older gentleman (bass – the lowest male voice)

Despina, a maid (soprano)

What’s the story? Così fan tutte is a classic “opera buffa” (BOOF-ah) or “funny opera” in Italian. The story features two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, who, along with their older friend Don Alfonso, hatch a plan to test the faithfulness of their girlfriends, Dorabella and Fiordiligi. The soldiers pretend to go off to war, only to return disguised as mysterious strangers. Each woos the opposite girl, with a little help from Despina, the girls’ maid. All of the characters then try to teach each other a few things about love and truth during one hilarious day.

Things to listen for: u how the musicians help set a mood by

playing or singing extra fast, extra slow, extra loud, or extra soft

u how the instruments play along with the singers and support them, while occasionally doing their own thing and playing a separate tune

u how characters often appear to besinging and speaking at the same time

What is an opera anyway? Opera is a story told through music.Instead of speaking, the characters sing through their thoughts and emotions. Sometimes the characters sing by themselves (this is called an “aria”—justlike our performance artist!—AH-ree-yah), and sometimes they sing in groups oftwo or more. Così fan tutte can feature six characters singing at once. There’s also an orchestra that uses different combinations of instruments at different times.

MoMo, like the legendary Mozart, is a composer and conductor. She’s all about music—how the notes on a page become the sounds you hear coming from the singers and the orchestra. She’ll show you how music works.

LaurenceLaurence is a poet—he makes up stories and rhymes. Poets like Laurence provide the words or libretto (pronounced lee-BRETT-oh) for the music you’ll hear. (Often opera is presented in a different language, like Italian or Geman. But don’t worry, there’s an English translation during the show.)

AriaAria takes center stage at the opera. She’s a singer, she’s a dancer, she’s an actress—she does it all! Today, Aria will guide you through the business of performing Così fan tutte (pronounced KOH-zee fahn TOOT-eh.)

ReggRegg has the double role of director/designer. He oversees everything that happens onstage (the singing, the character’s movements, the placement of props and set pieces, etc.). As a designer, he’s also responsible for the show’s overall look onstage.

GigiGigi is a stage manager, which means she keeps the performance running smoothly. Her special headset and microphone keep her in touch with everyoneduring the show.She’ll update you on what it takes to keep a performance rolling.

SPECIAL BULLETIN: NEWS FLASH:

The First Reporters on the Scene Many Talents Needed to Pull Off Opera

n Orchestra Players Those musicians in the dark pit at the foot of the stage.

Their instruments keep the opera on its musical feet and

their conductor—the person on the podium in front of

them—helps keep them in time with the singers.

n Props Little items onstage like phones, coffee cups, etc. that

are touched and used by the singers at certain times

and chosen especially by the director. Watch out for

the special magnet prop at the end of Act I that’s used

as a different form of “medicine.” n Sets

The stuff that gives the opera a sense of place,

including the walls, the windows, and the furniture.

n Costumes Anything the characters wear, including hats, shoes,

jewelry, even mustaches. Sometimes designers have

to gather information about what the characters are

wearing from the words that are sung in the opera.

n Lights Special lights set up all around the theater that

help you see the action onstage and give you

clues about the story, such as the time of day.

We’ve brought in a team of special reporters to explain opera’s many different features. Let’s meet the team now…

The Opera-Makers News Team

Mo and Laurence will give you some background about opera and Così fan tutte, our special “example opera” of the day.

It takes a whole lot of effort to create an opera. Sometimes as many as 70 people can be working during a single performance. Below is an “Opera Checklist,” to give you an idea of all the things you need to put on a show like Così fan tutte. If you see or hear any of the items on this list during the Look-In, check them off, just like a stage manager would do during the performance.

2 3 4

A Kennedy Center Exclusive Report: Making Opera

Who are the characters? Operatic music calls for many different kinds of singing, from the very high to the very low, and singers tend to fall into separate categories, based roughly on how high or low they can sing. Così fan tutte features six different characters, each with his or her own voice category or type:

Fiordiligi, a young woman (soprano – the highest female voice)

Dorabella, her sister (mezzo-soprano – a middle-range female voice)

Guglielmo, a soldier, Fiordiligi’s boyfriend (baritone – a middle-range male voice)

Ferrando, a soldier, Dorabella’s boyfriend (tenor – the highestmale voice)

Don Alfonso, an older gentleman (bass – the lowest male voice)

Despina, a maid (soprano)

What’s the story? Così fan tutte is a classic “opera buffa” (BOOF-ah) or “funny opera” in Italian. The story features two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, who, along with their older friend Don Alfonso, hatch a plan to test the faithfulness of their girlfriends, Dorabella and Fiordiligi. The soldiers pretend to go off to war, only to return disguised as mysterious strangers. Each woos the opposite girl, with a little help from Despina, the girls’ maid. All of the characters then try to teach each other a few things about love and truth during one hilarious day.

Things to listen for: u how the musicians help set a mood by

playing or singing extra fast, extra slow, extra loud, or extra soft

u how the instruments play along with the singers and support them, while occasionally doing their own thing and playing a separate tune

u how characters often appear to besinging and speaking at the same time

What is an opera anyway? Opera is a story told through music.Instead of speaking, the characters sing through their thoughts and emotions. Sometimes the characters sing by themselves (this is called an “aria”—justlike our performance artist!—AH-ree-yah), and sometimes they sing in groups oftwo or more. Così fan tutte can feature six characters singing at once. There’s also an orchestra that uses different combinations of instruments at different times.

MoMo, like the legendary Mozart, is a composer and conductor. She’s all about music—how the notes on a page become the sounds you hear coming from the singers and the orchestra. She’ll show you how music works.

LaurenceLaurence is a poet—he makes up stories and rhymes. Poets like Laurence provide the words or libretto (pronounced lee-BRETT-oh) for the music you’ll hear. (Often opera is presented in a different language, like Italian or Geman. But don’t worry, there’s an English translation during the show.)

AriaAria takes center stage at the opera. She’s a singer, she’s a dancer, she’s an actress—she does it all! Today, Aria will guide you through the business of performing Così fan tutte (pronounced KOH-zee fahn TOOT-eh.)

ReggRegg has the double role of director/designer. He oversees everything that happens onstage (the singing, the character’s movements, the placement of props and set pieces, etc.). As a designer, he’s also responsible for the show’s overall look onstage.

GigiGigi is a stage manager, which means she keeps the performance running smoothly. Her special headset and microphone keep her in touch with everyoneduring the show.She’ll update you on what it takes to keep a performance rolling.

SPECIAL BULLETIN: NEWS FLASH:

The First Reporters on the Scene Many Talents Needed to Pull Off Opera

n Orchestra Players Those musicians in the dark pit at the foot of the stage.

Their instruments keep the opera on its musical feet and

their conductor—the person on the podium in front of

them—helps keep them in time with the singers.

n Props Little items onstage like phones, coffee cups, etc. that

are touched and used by the singers at certain times

and chosen especially by the director. Watch out for

the special magnet prop at the end of Act I that’s used

as a different form of “medicine.” n Sets

The stuff that gives the opera a sense of place,

including the walls, the windows, and the furniture.

n Costumes Anything the characters wear, including hats, shoes,

jewelry, even mustaches. Sometimes designers have

to gather information about what the characters are

wearing from the words that are sung in the opera.

n Lights Special lights set up all around the theater that

help you see the action onstage and give you

clues about the story, such as the time of day.

David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education

Michael L. MaelExecutive Director

Francesca ZambelloArtistic Advisor

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.

Support for Family and Opera Look-Ins is provided by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is made possible through the generous support of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

International festivals at the Kennedy Center are generously supported by the HRH Foundation.

Additional support for The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna is provided by Michaeland Noémi Neidorff and The HonorableNancy G. Brinker.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Support for Washington National Opera Education Programs is provided by JPMorgan Chase Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Jacob & Charlotte Lehrman Foundation; National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs;U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; The Washington Post; Waterford Foundation; and Verizon.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. ARTSEDGE is a part of Thinkfi nity.org, a consortium of free educational Web sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center atwww.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

©2012 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing itwith friends!

This special news report is all about opera and the people who make it happen. Stay tuned to fi nd out what it takes to put these musical masterpieces onstage while watching scenes from Così fan tutte,a comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A few more things for you to know!

About the composer…Even if you’ve never heard classical music before, odds are you’ve heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). Mozart began composing at age fi ve and went on to become a master musician, writing symphonies, operas, and more—all in just 35 years of life.Così fan tutte is one of three operas he created with the writerLorenzo Da Ponte, who wrote the words to the songs you’ll hear today.

For Teachers and ParentsHere are some thoughts and activities to share with kids before the curtain rises and a little bit of homework fun for when it comes down.

Before the Look-InPre-opera prepAsk students what they think the experience of opera might be like.What sights and sounds do they expect? Be sure to point out thatoperas are similar to movies; they have something for everyone(romance, comedy, action, thrills).

Playlist shuffl eHave kids consider what type of music they enjoy. Do any of their favorite songs tell a story?Ask them to think about how this idea can apply to an opera.

Directed by Andrea Dorf McGray

With members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the Washington National Opera Orchestra

Conducted by Israel Gursky

Presented in the Kennedy Center Opera House

5 6

Signing Off

After the Look-InMasqueradeMany of the characters in Così fan tutte enjoy putting on masks and pretending to be someone else. Have younger students create a mask and pretend to be someone they’d like to be when they grow up. For older students, discuss how masks can be both literal and symbolic. How do disguises create trouble in Così fan tutte? Can they create trouble in real life?

No “I” in operaReview the “Opera Checklist” with students. Ask them to consider the exact responsibilities each “Opera-Maker” has for the production. Discuss how all the opera-makers must work together to make a production come to life onstage.

Fun withinstruments

Today, students will hear a full-sized orchestra. Can students list the four orchestra families? (Answer: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.) Ask students what instruments they can identify by ear. Listen for these unique sounds during the show.

BREAKING NEWS…

ozart’s music helped pave the way for many composers to come, and his works are among the most performed in concert halls and opera houses around the world.

Recognize the news anchor?Does the face behind the news desk look familiar? That’s because she’s Maureen Bunyan, anchor for Washington D.C.’s ABC7/WJLA-TV and host of the 6 p.m. weeknight news. A broadcaster for more than 30 years,Ms. Bunyan has received many awards, including seven local Emmys®.

David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education

Michael L. MaelExecutive Director

Francesca ZambelloArtistic Advisor

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.

Support for Family and Opera Look-Ins is provided by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is made possible through the generous support of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

International festivals at the Kennedy Center are generously supported by the HRH Foundation.

Additional support for The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna is provided by Michaeland Noémi Neidorff and The HonorableNancy G. Brinker.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Support for Washington National Opera Education Programs is provided by JPMorgan Chase Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Jacob & Charlotte Lehrman Foundation; National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs;U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; The Washington Post; Waterford Foundation; and Verizon.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. ARTSEDGE is a part of Thinkfi nity.org, a consortium of free educational Web sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center atwww.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

©2012 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing itwith friends!

This special news report is all about opera and the people who make it happen. Stay tuned to fi nd out what it takes to put these musical masterpieces onstage while watching scenes from Così fan tutte,a comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A few more things for you to know!

About the composer…Even if you’ve never heard classical music before, odds are you’ve heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). Mozart began composing at age fi ve and went on to become a master musician, writing symphonies, operas, and more—all in just 35 years of life.Così fan tutte is one of three operas he created with the writerLorenzo Da Ponte, who wrote the words to the songs you’ll hear today.

For Teachers and ParentsHere are some thoughts and activities to share with kids before the curtain rises and a little bit of homework fun for when it comes down.

Before the Look-InPre-opera prepAsk students what they think the experience of opera might be like.What sights and sounds do they expect? Be sure to point out thatoperas are similar to movies; they have something for everyone(romance, comedy, action, thrills).

Playlist shuffl eHave kids consider what type of music they enjoy. Do any of their favorite songs tell a story?Ask them to think about how this idea can apply to an opera.

Directed by Andrea Dorf McGray

With members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the Washington National Opera Orchestra

Conducted by Israel Gursky

Presented in the Kennedy Center Opera House

5 6

Signing Off

After the Look-InMasqueradeMany of the characters in Così fan tutte enjoy putting on masks and pretending to be someone else. Have younger students create a mask and pretend to be someone they’d like to be when they grow up. For older students, discuss how masks can be both literal and symbolic. How do disguises create trouble in Così fan tutte? Can they create trouble in real life?

No “I” in operaReview the “Opera Checklist” with students. Ask them to consider the exact responsibilities each “Opera-Maker” has for the production. Discuss how all the opera-makers must work together to make a production come to life onstage.

Fun withinstruments

Today, students will hear a full-sized orchestra. Can students list the four orchestra families? (Answer: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.) Ask students what instruments they can identify by ear. Listen for these unique sounds during the show.

BREAKING NEWS…

ozart’s music helped pave the way for many composers to come, and his works are among the most performed in concert halls and opera houses around the world.

Recognize the news anchor?Does the face behind the news desk look familiar? That’s because she’s Maureen Bunyan, anchor for Washington D.C.’s ABC7/WJLA-TV and host of the 6 p.m. weeknight news. A broadcaster for more than 30 years,Ms. Bunyan has received many awards, including seven local Emmys®.