ACT I

Ferrando and Guglielmo argue heatedly with Don Alfonso, who insists that women (including their fiancées Dorabella and Fiordiligi) aren’t any more faithful in relationships than men. They agree to a bet: Don Alfonso will prove their fiancées’ infidelity by the end of the day as long as Ferrando and Guglielmo follow his directions to the letter. 

Don Alfonso delivers “news” to Fiordiligi and Dorabella (who are sisters) that their betrothed have been recalled to active military duty and must deploy immediately. The two couples bid each other a tearful farewell. 

The women’s assistant Despina finds them distraught. To their horror, Despina counsels them to amuse themselves with the other fish in the sea while their lovers are away. After the sisters storm out, Don Alfonso recruits Despina to aid him in his plot, asking her to help him arrange a meeting with two potential suitors, who are none other than Guglielmo and Ferrando in disguise. Fiordiligi and Dorabella are not impressed with the two would-be-lovers in disguise. Don Alfonso vouches for the mens’ character and begs the sisters to give them a chance, but to no avail. Fiordiligi staunchly swears fidelity to her war-bound fiancé and leaves with Dorabella.

Ferrando and Guglielmo gloat over Don Alfonso, feeling high on their chances of winning the bet. Don Alfonso cautions them that the day isn’t over yet, but Ferrando especially basks in the confidence that Dorabella will stay true to him.

The two disguised suitors barge in once again on Fiordiligi and Dorabella and swallow what seems to be poison. Fiordiligi and Dorabella tend to the (apparently) dying men when a “doctor” (Despina in disguise) arrives to revive the two afflicted suitors. As they recover, they vow their love to the vexed sisters with even greater passion, while Don Alfonso and Despina giggle with amusement.

INTERMISSION

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ACT II

Despina manages to convince Fiordiligi and Dorabella that there would be no harm in a bit of flirtation. Dorabella chooses the disguised Guglielmo while Fiordiligi chooses Ferrando.

Fiordiligi and Ferrando go for a stroll while Guglielmo courts Dorabella. To his amazement, Dorabella surrenders rather easily. Ferrando returns unsuccessfully with Fiordiligi. When the two men exchange news of their progress, Ferrando bemoans that his faithless Dorabella has yielded to Guglielmo.

Ferrando makes one more desperate attempt to break Fiordiligi’s resolve. To Guglielmo’s distress, she finally yields. Don Alfonso has now won his wager. He tries to console the two young men with his motto: ‘così fan tutte’ (‘all women are like that’).

The sisters’ weddings to their two suitors are interrupted by a military chorus in the distance heralding the ‘return’ of Ferrando and Guglielmo from overseas. The suitors and the ‘notary’ (again Despina in disguise) run off. Ferrando and Guglielmo appear as themselves once again in military uniform, feigning surprise at the cool reception they receive. After swearing vengeance on their faithless fiancées when they discover the marriage contract, the two men finally reveal their ruse, and the couples deal with the consequences.