Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588

“At Glyndebourne, both Despina and Alfonso are played traditionally and with notable brio by Garmendia and Rivenq… the delightful Persson and Vondung make a wholly believable and vocally attractive Fiordiligi and Dorabella, and deliver their music in ideal Mozartian tone and style. ...Fischer conducts with an unassumingly correct sense of timing: brio nicely matched to loving attention to detail.” Gramophone Magazine, June 2007

“When I saw this production at Glyndebourne last May, I thought that it was one of the three perfect operatic performances that I have ever been to. That view is only strengthened by seeing this marvellous DVD, which does the fullest justice to the brilliance of Nicholas Hytner's production, and the glorious orchestral playing and the magnificent singing under Iván Fischer. ..the whole opera is both more funny and more painful, much more painful, than it usually is. We are left at the end bewildered by the treachery of the human heart and delighted by the beauty in the music with which Mozart brings this home to us.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2007 *****

“Dressed in shades of sand and stone by Vicki Mortimer, and bathed in summer light by Paule Constable, Hytner’s period production marries elegance, farce and psychological acuity.” The Independent

“There is… plenty of work for the producer in seeing that the whole thing goes with style and good judgement. And this is exactly what Roberto de Simone has done here, supported by an excellent team of designers for sets, costumes and lighting. All is deft and ingenious, but above all, right for the music and libretto and a pleasure to look at. All six principals give performances worthy of the Vienna house which, after all, has standards in Mozart. The ensemble work is polished, the rias and duets technically able and tasteful in style. Any apprehension arising out of news (reported on the box-cover) that Muti's conducting was praised for its "rapidity" prove needless: the other terms, "freshness" and "wit" are perfectly justified.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2009