Mozart: Così fan tutte (Berlin, 2002)

At first I had planned to view this opera in two sittings but I could not wait to see the second half. The story and costumes have been updated to 1970 and the young singers, who are all excellent actors, make this bittersweet comedy into one of the funniest things I have ever seen on DVD. Doris Dörre has found a perfect solution in her 'concept' and the viewer will be amazed at how the thought and effort put in by all pays off. The opera begins in an airport lounge with the men in business suits and moves to the well-furnished house of the 70's, the girls home, until the end when the men deplane for the nuptials. Instead of as Albanians, the men appear as hippies; as the girls slowly warm up to their advances they, too, abandon their more formal attire and wigs for less restricted clothing and their own hair. When Fiordiligi hesitates she then puts the wig back on to show her loyalty towards her lover.

Of the singers, Dorothea Röschmann is the one with the most remarkable voice. Her Fiordiligi is passionately sung and acted and her voice wonderfully rounded from dark low notes to a rich middle and beautifully floated and easy top. My only slight quibble is that her trill is imperfect. Katharina Kammerloher's Dorabella is a bit on the dark and heavy side but it matches her sister's voice quite well in the duets. Daniela Bruera is a capable Despina who especially pleases when in disguise.

Of the men the vocal honors go to Roman Trekel's beautifully sung and scheming Don Alfonso. Werner Güra manages some nice head tones in 'Un aura amorosa' and it is a shame that his two others are cut. Hanno Müller-Brachmann's Gugliemo is also a heavier baritone than one usually hears in this role and more lightness at times would be preferred. Nonetheless everyone in the cast is pleasant to outstanding and one hears a quality of ensemble that is rarely heard in Mozart today.

Daniel Barenboim leads the Staatskapelle Berlin, who play excellently for him, in a perfectly spaced out reading of this most beautiful of operas.

I have enjoyed this recording trememdously and while I find only two of the singers exceptional, the team effort here and the incredibly well thought out and rehearsed production is what will make me want to watch it over and over again.

Related website:
TDK Mediactive www.tdk-mediactive.com

Marco Schmid, 10 December 2002

mrcshmd13@aol.com

 

See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.