This weekend, students of the Interlochen Arts Academy are bringing Mozart’s "Così fan tutte" to the stage. The title is often translated as "Women are like that," or more literally, "Thus do all women."
It's a comic opera that plays with the idea — flawed as it may be — that women are inherently unfaithful.
In the story, two young men are convinced their fiancées would never betray them. Their friend, the cynical Don Alfonso, challenges this belief, betting that he can prove the women’s infidelity.
To test this, the men disguise themselves and attempt to seduce each other's fiancée.
Interestingly, this theme isn't just confined to the opera stage. When I was in school, ornithologists believed that songbirds, which often form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, remained faithful to each other.
However, advances in genetic testing have revealed that in many bird species, females engage in what's known as "extra-pair mating," resulting in offspring with different fathers within the same brood.
If a particularly attractive male comes along, perhaps with vibrant plumage or a captivating song, a female might choose to mate with him, potentially enhancing the genetic diversity and vitality of her offspring.
This behavior isn't about deception. It's a natural strategy to improve the chances of survival for the next generation. But indeed, a large percentage of female birds, when given the opportunity, are unfaithful.
After all, as the opera suggests, "così fan tutte" — "thus do all women."
