British director Nicholas Hynter’s production of Così fan tutte premièred at Glyndebourne in 2006. WA Opera’s Music Director Chris van Tuinen programmed it for their 2020 season. The set, costumes, props, and furniture were shipped to Perth, and the season substantially sold out. Then Covid-19 struck, and theatres (and Western Australian borders) closed.

Restrictions within Western Australia have since eased. Venues reopened in June with a limited capacity of two square metres per person (even this has now been waived for seated events). Physical distancing is encouraged but not mandatory; there are no masks in sight. In comparison with most of the world (and much of the country), we’re living on another planet here.