Così fan tutte, a comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, is known for its sophisticated ensemble composition 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 his ability to convey complex psychological states through music. This makes it one of Mozart's most performed and popular operas, celebrated for its wit, complex musical textures and insightful commentary on the human condition.

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

Schäfer has also made a name for himself as an arranger and composer. He has twice been awarded the Echo Klassik for CDs with the Ma'alot Quintet, on which his arrangements of Dvořák (2006) and Rossini (2010) can be heard.

Recorded in May 2024 in Trivolzio (Italy). The booklet in English contains liner notes by Lorenzo Fazzini and a profile of the ensemble.

Mozart's operas enjoyed such success and popularity in their day that melodies from them were whistled in the street and arrangements were widely available.

One of the most popular forms of arrangement was for wind ensemble, and even during Mozart's lifetime these were often performed on all sorts of occasions. This new recording presents an arrangement for wind ensemble by Ulf-Guido Schäfer, a highly successful clarinettist, composer and arranger who has won several ECHO Klassik awards.

Founded in 2019, the Spiritum Wind Quintet consists of Lorenzo Fazzini (flute), Luca Etzi (oboe), Riccardo Nanni (horn), Vincenzo Riccio (bassoon) and Giacomo Alfano (clarinet). All of them have won prizes at (inter)national competitions and each of them enjoys a successful individual solo career.