Customer Reviews

Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
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Last of the three Mozart-Da Ponte operas, Cosi Fan Tutte (They all do it) premiered in January 1790. Mozart was in despondent spirits during the two dark years of 1789-90. His own health was poor, his wife Constanze was also frequently ill, and money was scarce as a result of a war induced economic depression in Austria. It was during this period - in which his frequent begging letters to fellow Mason Michael Puchberg reveal his increasing desperation - that Mozart was least productive in an otherwise uncanny lifetime of stunning productivity. Mozart's operas were only moderately successful in Vienna. The Viennese audiences were notoriously conservative and found his music too difficult for their ears ("too many notes" as Emperor Joseph said of The Abduction from the Seraglio). Mozart had spectacular success in Prague, however, as the composition of Don Giovanni to be premiered in that city in 1787 proves. Despite the difficulties Mozart faced in its composition, Cosi is perhaps his most perfect opera. It contains some of the most ravishingly beautiful music he ever composed in what is essentially a chamber opera for six voices.

This production is an ostentatiously traditional one. It seems to "flip-the-bird" at all new-fangled updatings and it proudly proclaims its stubborn adherence to 18th Century performance values. As a result it is hypermodern and ultimately subversive. The message of this Cosi is clear: see how wonderfully effective a traditional Mozart performance truly is. Why waste your time on modernizations? From the sets and stage design to costumes and performances everything suggests the period in which the opera was written. This Glyndebourne production directed by Nicholas Hytner is as much a feast for the eyes as the musical performances are a sumptuous repast for the ears. All of the vocal performers are superb (and superb looking) and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Ivan Fischer performs this music on authentic instruments in an historically informed performance that is exemplary.

Filmed in high-definition, this single BD50 Opus Arte Blu-Ray disc produces a deeply colorful 16:9 1080i image and pristine audio in both Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and 5.0 soundtracks. Because of the extreme visual and audio clarity provided by the Blu-Ray format the experience is utterly immersive. One feels as if the stage is in the room producing a palpable sense of a live performance. The running time of the disc is 210 minutes.

This is an experience not to be missed. If your equipment is capable of reproducing the full high-definition output of a Blu-Ray disc then this performance of Cosi Fan Tutte belongs in your collection. Superbly performed and presented it is most assuredly a special release.

Mike Birman

What an amazing production. Hytner's direction, Fischer's conducting, and the work of the principal singers -- every last one of them -- and the orchestra are almost beyond reproach. We have been watching this just a half hour at a time, in order to savor it and make it last.

I am a singer, conductor, and musicologist, and I have been involved with workshop and professional productions of Cosi since I was an undergraduate. I think I could probably sing it in my sleep. But I have never seen or heard such a beautiful, fully realized production as this one. Indeed, in these days of Regietheater etc. I hardly thought it possible. It is so obvious that the people involved, besides being highly skilled, take Mozart and Da Ponte seriously, even (especially) in what is sometimes considered their silliest comic opera.

The television direction and the Blu-Ray encoding, both picture and sound, are astonishing as well. (Sorry, I realize that if I keep up this gushing, I'll lose credibility. Just can't help it.)

Get this if you love Mozart. You really will not, not, not be sorry.

I've begun collecting opera on bluray the last several months, with mixed results. As for Mozart, I bought the Don Giovanni directed by Francesca Zambello, which is terrific, and The Marriage Of Figaro directed by Claus Guth, which is a travesty. This production of Cosi, directed by the theatre director Nicholas Hytner is better than them all, and is one of the best opera dvds I've ever seen. As the previous reviewer said, merely by being traditional, this Cosi is more meaningful and subversive than any "reinterpreted" version could be. Highly recommended!

I am familiar with the excellent orchestra but none of the performers are known to me. As it turned out, all the performers are ideal for their roles. I don't have any comments for improvement. I liked the simple furnature that let's you concentrate on the actors and the singing. The picture is very clear and vivid, the sound is first class and the acting is usually good if not perfect (as is always in operas).
To summarize, it doesn't get better than that

Another outstanding Blu Ray Mozart opera production. Thankfully traditional costuming and sets, but acted and sung with skill and relish to the delight of the audience and this viewer. The three leading ladies are particularly good and their comic acting is very amusing. One wonders just what the young Mozart observed about the behaviour of the aristocracy in his travels because his operas reflect obvious disrespect for them, something which caused considerable uproar when they were first produced. In this opera he credits the maid, Despina, deliciously sung and acted by Ainhoa Garmendia, with more intelligence and astuteness to see through the disguises of the men, than the ladies who are supposed to love them!!

As with most operas the storyline is thin and unbelievable but the artists in this Glynedebourne effort imbue the production with such delightful singing and acting one soon forgets the total improbability of what is happening and become completely immersed in it. This is the BD Mozart opera I have enjoyed the most out of a generally good lot.

The audio and video are up to the usual high Blu Ray standards. We are fortunate to have been given so many top notch Mozart operas in this format. Unreservedly recommended.

The traditional stage types can now stop compaining, they have a opera that may suit their tastes. No more whinging about modern productions, which pushes them out of their comfort zone. I like both types of staging myself. This opera has 18th Century costumes and decor,along with the authentic instrument, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Naturally, this event takes place at Glyndebourne opera house, founded I believe by the Christies.The wife sang opera, Mozart was her favourite. The singers Miah Persson,Fiordilgi. Dorabella, Anke Vondung. Don Alfonso, Nicolas Rivenq, and the rest of the cast sing extremely well.Beautiful opera. Certainly, should be in your collection. But if you wish to see something completely different, I recommend, the New Valencia opera's, Les Troyens.The opera will put hairs on your chest.

What has been stated below is for the DVD of this work that I bought before I upgraded and bought a Blu ray...
Here goes:
I have been familiar with Cosi ever since I can remember. From an aria or two on my dad's 78RPM records to the beautiful Otto Klemperer recording on vinyl and later on to many VHS tapes and then the Gardiner version, although good, started appearing a little jaded thanks to average acting and dramatization.
So when I felt I should have a fresh new production, (sans Eurotrash), I thought I would look up the views of the reviewing proletariat - and thought I would risk buying this one.
THANKS GUYS.... Whatever you have stated in all the previous 10 reviews (for the DVD) to this is almost absolutely correct. This is the nearest thing that is akin to an un-putdownable book that I have seen. So fresh, vibrant in acting and absolutely precise sublime singing and interpretation. I think I will measure any other Cosi by the standard of this one.
Not just period costumes, but sets that are minimal, but bright and not jungle-jims or abstract pillars and stuff that do not distract, but bring out the essence of the interpretation. I am also overjoyed that it has been performed by artistes thus far not known to me... maybe they are doing well these days, must look that up now.
Just that I do not agree with one reviewer (for the DVD) who stated that the third set of Despina and the Don are not up to the mark.. Yes. Despina here is no Lucia Popp but is quite adequate for the role, and if Don had been more powerful, may have killed the character. I think he is just right for the role too...
I would unhesitatingly recommend this Blu Ray or DVD to anyone irrespective of whether it is the first ever video of Cosi or even if one has all the other recordings of it.

... probably the best opera blu-ray I own. Great cast, great production - and an orchestra to match. Ivan Fischer is an exciting Mozart conductor. From the first bars of the overture, you know you are in for a treat. The music is played with energy and enthusiasm. The two finales truly shake the house. Fischer and Hytner also have a few interesting things to say about the opera in the bonus interviews. The ending is ambiguous - as Hytner claims, every audience has to decide itself whether all's well or not by the end.

Not much more to add. It's a treasure.