Libretto by Lorenzo
da Ponte
Music by W.A. Mozart
Directed by Elisha
Holley
Canberra Opera
Belconnen Theatre to
5 August.
Reviewed by Len Power
28 July
It’s quite a major undertaking for a local non-professional
company to stage a full Mozart opera on a limited budget. Canberra Opera’s production of Mozart’s ‘Cosi
Fan Tutte’ works quite nicely, due to some fine singing and imaginative staging.
Originally performed in Vienna in 1790, ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’,
usually translated in English as ‘Women Are Like That’, is a silly romp
involving young lovers, disguises and a now inappropriate test of woman’s
fidelity. This modern day production is
set in a popular café called ‘The Hamlet’ in Canberra’s Braddon and it plays
surprisingly well on a simple but atmospheric set by Mel Davies.
Spoiled sisters Fiordiligi (Keren Dalzell) and Dorabella (Clare
Hedley) run their own café. Cynical Don
Alfonso (Peter Smith) aims to prove to their fiancés, Duntroon graduates
Guglielmo (Nathanael Patterson) and Ferrando (Andrew Barrow), that all women
are the same and, when put to the test, will not remain faithful to their
partners. The young men pretend to be
deployed overseas and then transform themselves into unrecognisable suitors
that try to tempt the young ladies with their affections.
 |
| Left to Right: Nathanael Patterson, Keren Dalzell, Andrew Barrow, Clare Hedley, Katrina Wiseman and Peter Smith with the Chorus and Orchestra |
The sisters and their fiancés, Keren Dalzell and Clare
Hedley, Andrew Barrow and Nathanael Patterson, sang well and performed their large
roles with confidence. Peter Smith was
in fine voice as the oily Don Alfonso and Katrina Wiseman displayed notable comic
timing and nicely sang the role of the waitress, Despina. The chorus of singers provided good vocal
support as well.
Musical director, Kathleen Loh, has done an excellent job
with the singers. Their singing was
technically accurate and their diction was clear. Conductor, Lizzy Collier, and her small
orchestra played the lengthy score very capably.
Director, Elisha Holley, has done well with her Braddon café
concept and the production flows nicely.
More work needed to be done with the chorus who were a bit
under-directed and there were some melodramatic moments here and there that
seemed more 18th century Italy than modern day Braddon.
Canberra Opera’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ shows what can be done by
an enthusiastic company with limited resources.
I’ve seen lavish professional presentations of this opera that were not
as enjoyable as this production.
Photo by E.S.
Fotographi
This review was first published in the Canberra City News digital edition of Monday 30 July.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.