Così fan tutte, a comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, is noted for its sophisticated ensemble writing and Mozart’s nuanced portrayal of the characters’ emotional journeys. The opera’s overture, and arias such as “Come scoglio” and “Un’aura amorosa”, showcase the composer’s melodic genius and ability to convey complex psychological states through music, making it one of Mozart’s most performed and beloved operas, celebrated for its wit, intricate musical textures and insightful commentary on the human condition.

This great opera is here arranged for wind quintet by Ulf-Guido Schäfer, a multiple Echo-Klassik award-winning clarinettist who has held principal posts with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie (1989–94) and the NDR Radiophilharmonie (1994–present) and boasts a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician (in ensemble acht, the Trio Roseau, the NDR’s Arte-Ensemble, and the Ma’alot Quintett).

Schäfer has also made a name for himself as an arranger and composer. He was twice awarded the Echo-Klassik for CDs with the Ma’alot Quintett featuring his arrangements of Dvořák (2006) and Rossini (2010), respectively.