“Così fan tutte”: Mozart’s Opera Premieres in a Modern Context at the National Theatre in Belgrade

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Così fan tutte, conducted by Aleksandar Gutić and directed by Ana Grigorović, will have its premiere on May 8 (8:30 PM) at the “Raša Plaović” Stage.

This witty and layered story about love, fidelity, and temptation is the last opera composed by Mozart in collaboration with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.

Through identity swaps and the characters’ emotional challenges, this opera sheds light on the complexities of human relationships, supported by the musical virtuosity characteristic of Mozart’s work.

Director Ana Grigorović emphasizes that this new production is modern, bold, and intended primarily for a young audience.

“Così fan tutte, interpreted by young performers and predominantly intended for a young audience, raises questions that reflect the complexity of emotional relationships of a generation. Is there a deep fear hidden behind a relaxed attitude? Is vulnerability a flaw? Is there any love… in the club? The heart of this story is not condemnation, but rather – understanding. Two young couples will play with their own feelings and needs tonight. Their dance will be intense until the lights turn on. And when they do, we remain exposed to each other. Exposed with all our emotions, fears, regrets, and shame. And then, it is the perfect time to ask ourselves: What is love when we dare to be who we truly are?”

At the premiere the audience will have the opportunity to get to know a new generation of opera artists – young performers from the “Borislav Popović” Opera Studio, who are developing their artistic expression and professional identity with institutional and mentorship support.

The solo cast will include Teodora Ilić, Nataša Jovović, Marko Kostić, Stefan Petković, Milica Lolić, and Tamaš Kiš.

The National Theatre’s Opera Studio has a long and significant tradition, dating back to the mid-20th century, as a nurturing ground for young talent and a meeting place with seasoned artists. Today, alongside singers, young conductors and répétiteurs also receive advanced training. Thanks to the trust and support of their parent institution, many of them are already performing on the Main Stage.

The Opera Studio is named after distinguished opera director Borislav Popović. For the 2024/2025 season, the artistic team includes: Jadranka Jovanović (vocal mentor), Milica Ilić (conductor/répétiteur), and Ivana Dragutinović Maričić (director).

“We are proud of the long-standing tradition of the National Theatre’s Opera Studio, through which many artists have passed – artist who today represent the pillars of our Opera. Today, within the “Borislav Popović” Studio, not only young singers but also conductors and répétiteurs are refining their skills, and many of them are already participating in the regular repertoire, thanks to the Theatre’s support. Before us is a youthful, modern, and witty interpretation of Così fan tutte, which explores important life questions in a fresh way. Working with these talented young people has been a great pleasure for me, and I believe they will one day pass on their knowledge – because it is precisely this chain of mentorship that makes art eternal,” prima donna and vocal mentor Jadranka Jovanović says.

Subsequent performances are scheduled for May 13 and 24.