In the space of a few months, in the autumn and winter of 1789, Mozart filled more than 650 pages of a score that shows practically no signs of mental or physical exertion. The result was one of his most profound operas, Così fan tutte, which has held listeners spellbound with its blend of bitterness and comedy to the present day.

Edited by Faye Ferguson and Wolfgang Rehm for the “New Mozart Edition” (NMA II/5/18) incorporating the latest scholarly findings from the critical commentary publis...