Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte; opera buffa review

CHEATING PARTNERS:Desiree Frahn, Robert MacFarlane and Lisa Cannizzaro. Photo: Roy Van Der Vegt.



The University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music, in association with the Adelaide Centre for the Arts, presents one of Mozart's most light-hearted opera buffa 'Cosi Fan Tutte (All Women Are Like That)'.

The plot revolves around a wager between a bachelor, who believes all women are the same in matters of love, and two young handsome men who believe their fiancees will remain faithful to them. The pair agree to test their maidens' love by pretending to go off to war, then posing as Latin lovers. Meanwhile, the bachelor bribes the ladies' chambermaid in urging the women to find other lovers while their men are away.

The production is directed by Juha Vanharkartano with Carl Crossin as Musical Director, sung in English and staged at the Adelaide University's Little Theatre.

Lovely Ladies Like Those by Linh

Mozart's two act comic opera 'Cosi Fan Tutte (All Women Are Like That)' is musically enchanting and Lorenzo da Ponte's elegantly poetic libretto has been translated to English without losing any of its expressive beauty.

The opera is set in 1967, with the Vietnam War as the backdrop and enhanced with the stage images and minimalistic set, designed by students from the Adelaide Centre of the Arts.

The strong and talented cast of six brings forth their characters' humour and acts of infidelity with much professionalism in an opera with plenty of songs in duets, trios and quintets.

Bass singer Lachlan Scott plays the cynical and jaded bachelor Don Alfonso, with the right amount of smarminess and sings his parts superbly in May The Wind Be Gentle with Dorabella and Fiordiligi, All Women Are Like That with Ferrando and Guglielmo, and his aria Oh, Poor Little Ones, To Wager 100 Sequins on A Woman.

Tenor Robert MacFarlane is dashing and convincing as the young Ferrando who is heart broken when his lovely Dorabella succumbs to the charms of the disguised Guglielmo. Robert is brilliant in voice throughout his arias A Loving Breath, hitting all the incredibly high notes in Ah, I See It, brings warmth and sincerity in his duet In The Embraces with Fiordiligi.

Talented soprano Lisa Cannizzaro performs the role of Fiordiligi with conviction as she portrays her character's struggles to remain faithful to Guglielmo, while enjoying the romantic overtures of the disguised Ferrando. Lisa has brilliant vocal projection, displaying a scintillating singing voice in her parts for You Take The Darker One with Dorabella and her arias Please, My Beloved, Forgive Me and Like A Rock.

Soprano Desiree Frahn is sublime as the fickle Dorabella who easily falls for her sister's fiance, the disguised Guglielmo. In a mezzo-soprano role, Desiree sings mellifluously in her aria Torments Implacable, and her duet I Give You My Heart with Guglielmo.

Baritone Jeremy Tatchell brings charm and arrogance to his character Guglielmo, as he woos the steadfast Fiordiligi while boasting of his manliness. Jeremy is alluring in voice as he sings his arias Don't Be Shy!, and My Ladies, You Do It To So Many.

Soprano Daniela Jedrzejczak provides the most quirkiest and delightful moments as the character Despina, the sisters' chambermaid. Daniela is sensational as her character appears in various diguises as the Doctor and the Marriage Celebrant, while delivering her arias with comic timing and panache in A Fifteen Year Old Woman and In Men, In Soldiers, You Hope For Faithfulness?.

The production engaged the audience with characters Don Alfonso placing his hat and his coat on unsuspecting members of the audience, and Despina passing around confetti as Dorabella and Fiordilgi prepared for the marriage celebrations.

Director Juha Vanhakartano makes the most of the Little Theatre's intimate setting, with the cast members sitting in the aisles or scaling the stairs throughout the performance.

Musical Director Carl Crossin works his magic with Mozart's stylish score as the 'Cosi Fan Tutte Ensemble' gives stellar instrumental support to the singers.