Opera review - Cosi Fan Tutte at Birmingham Hippodrome
To borrow a footballing reference, last night's performance of this Mozart opera certainly was a game of two halves.
Cosi Fan Tutte - Welsh National Opera
Birmingham Hippodrome
Opera review by Jerald Smith
To borrow a footballing reference, last night's performance of this Mozart opera certainly was a game of two halves.
Towards the end of the first act a lack of communication led to some of the ensemble singing and the orchestra being not entirely together.
Added to that, the acting and singing up to that point had been a little lacklustre generally, making it a very long opening.
However, the second act was infinitely better, with singers and players combining beautifully to give a sparkling version of Mozart's delightful music under conductor Daniele Rustioni.
Benjamin Davis's debut production had some intriguing ideas, even if they did not all succeed.
Setting the location in a British seaside town doesn't add anything to the plot and the assorted red-coats, entertainers, helter-skelter and Punch and Judy stall sometimes get in the way of telling the story.
Cosi Fan Tutte plays again on Saturday, with WNO's brilliant Turandot tonight (Friday).
