Salzburg Festival revives 'Così fan tutte' with stark minimalist staging

On 7 August 2026 the Salzburg Festival presented a new production of Mozart’s opera “Così fan tutte”. Directed by Christof Loys and designed by stage‑designer Johannes Leiacker, the staging reduced the set to a white wall, two doors and a single space, eliminating all traditional scenery.

The minimalist concept recalls the festival’s 2020 pandemic‑era version and has been praised for its focus on the characters’ emotions. The cast includes Lea Desandre as Despina, Johannes Martin Kränzle as Don Alfonso, Bogdan Volkov (Ferrando), Victoria Karkacheva (Dorabella), André Schuen (Guglielmo) and Elsa Dreisig (Fiordiligi). Joana Mallwitz conducted the Wiener Philharmoniker orchestra. Audience response was enthusiastic, noting the “maximal success with maximal minimalism”.