Stars: Cecilia Bartoli, Agnes Baltsa, Liliana Nikiteanu, Zurich Opera House Chor And Orch, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Summary: A production which had its premier in February 2000 features Cecilia Bartoli in her debut as Fiordiligi.

COSI FAN TUTTE, Mozart's final comic opera, is performed here by the Zurich Opera House with Cecilia Bartoli assuming the main soprano role as Fiordiligi. Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts the Zurich Opera House Chorus and Orchestra in Jurgen Flimms' production.

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Mozart's third and final opera with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, the hugely ambitious dramatic comedy Così fan Tutte (roughly translated as: "They're All Like That"), is brought passionately to life in a first-class production conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and featuring one of the great starring roles for Cecilia Bartoli. Filmed live at the Zurich Opera House in February 2000 on a set which visualises the subtitle "The School for Lovers", the plot revolves around two army officers arguing about the fidelity of their brides, then setting out to test their chastity. Despite the often playful humour, this is not only psychologically telling music-making, but reveals Mozart exploring the structure of opera, discarding convention to mix large ensemble sections with arias for as many different combinations of singers as possible. With Liliana Nikiteanu attractively contrasted with Bartoli, and thoroughly convincing performances by Roberto Sacca (Ferrando) and Oliver Widmer (Guilelmo), this Così has a freshness and flow which, coupled with the timeless romantic themes, feels very contemporary.

On the DVD: the presentation, which includes an interesting 22-minute behind-the-scenes documentary, is spread over two DVDs. There is a multi-language booklet minus libretto, though there is the option to watch with English subtitles. Given the difficult live stage lighting conditions the 16:9 anamorphically enhanced picture is as good as can be expected. There are both stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks, though the latter gives the voices a disconcertingly disembodied character, leaving the former to be preferred. The total running time is approximately 213 minutes, not 275 minutes stated on the packaging. --Gary S Dalkin

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 0
Subtitles:	English, French, German
Year:	2000
Release Date:	November 6, 2000
Runtime:	275 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	100 012
Keywords:	Music, Opera, Two, Cosi, Fan, Tutte, Wide, Screen, Mozart, Performing, Operetta, Discs, Arts
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts