Janice Watson (soprano), Lesley Garrett (soprano), Diana Montague (mezzo-soprano), Toby Spence (tenor), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), David Watkin (cello), John Cohen (cello) & Ronald Schneider (fortepiano) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment & Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Sir Charles Mackerras Così fan tutte is Mozart’s third opera to a Da Ponte libretto. It is in opera buffa style and has only six characters,
two couples and an elderly philosopher and a trusted maid. In this recording Lesley Garrett sings the part of the
maid, Despina, and the celebrated veteran Sir Thomas Allen the philosopher, Don Alfonso. Despite the somewhat
cynical storyline this opera contains some of Mozart’s most memorable and sublime music.
The conductor, Sir Charles Mackerras, has spent many years researching performance practice of the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries and is a noted authority on Mozart’s operas. He writes of this recording, ‘it is indeed a
pleasure having the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment lending its expertise in tonal colour, phrasing and
rhythmic impulse to Mozart’s wonderful score… I have chosen to record this English version of Così fan tutte with
the traditional cuts, thus making it closer to a staged performance’. The English translation, by the Rev. Browne,
was first used in London at a performance conducted by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford in 1890. “M is for Mozart, Mackerras and magic. The Australian conductor - surely the world’s most illuminating and rewarding Mozartian - conjures sounds of mercurial brilliance and heart-stopping beauty from the OAE and his all-British cast in this vernacular version of Mozart’s most enigmatic comedy.” Sunday Times, 4th May 2008 **** “Charles Mackerras, always a rewarding Mozart conductor, directs a taut, urgent account of the opera. Recitatives tumble inevitably into arias. Yet, despite his penchant for mobile tempos, Mackerras is fully alive to Così 's uniquely voluptuous, nostalgic tinta.
Crucially in an opera of ensembles, the cast works well as a close-knit team, whether in the concerted numbers or in the recitatives, taken at a natural, conversational pace.” The Telegraph, 3rd May 2008 “This recording lacks an underlying dramatic conviction, despite punchy playing from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Mackerras.
It's a shame, because Toby Spence, Christopher Maltman, Janice Watson and Diana Montague are nicely matched fair-weather lovers. But the direction seems moot. Lesley Garrett's devilsome maid Despina hams too much to the absent crowd, tonally rather too music-hall for the rest of the recording.” The Times, 12th April 2008 *** “This is an account of Così which seems to put momentum first. The opening chord, more ferocious than one would expect, gives way to a rattling overture, and tension and pace never let up.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2008 *** “…the pacing, ebb and flow of the music is near-perfect. In particular, the OAE's woodwind are on ravishing form. Sir Thomas Allen is, a renowned Don Alfonso of authority and warmth… Toby Spence delivers some of the best Mozart tenor-singing I have hard in a long time.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2008 |
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