Una donna a quindici anni
from Act II, Scene I of the Italian opera "Così fan tutte" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Libretto: Lorenzo da Ponte
Role: Despina, the serving maid

Soprano: Diana Sobiaco
Pianist: Ms. Helen Reyes

Despina's aria:
A woman of fifteen years
Must know all the good methods
where the devil keeps his tail.
What’s good, and what’s bad,
She must know the little malices
That enamor lovers.
To feign laughter, to feign tears,
And invent good reasons.
She must pay attention to a hundred at a time,
Speak with her eyes with a thousand,
Give hope to all, be they handsome or ugly,
Know how to obfuscate without getting
confused, Know how to lie without blushing.
And this queen from her high throne
Can make them obey with, “I can,” and “I
will.”
(It seems they like this doctrine:
Long live Despina, who knows how to serve!)

#unadonnaaquindicianni
#classical
#mozart
#cosifantutte