Negative Positive
Title: A very odd Cosi
Review: I didn't like this version of Cosi Fan Tutte. I love Cecilia Bartoli, but I felt her voice didn't go together well with Nikiteanu's. Maybe it's because they are both mezzo sopranos, I don't know. Also, I didn't think Widmer and Sacca sang their parts well. Agnes Baltsa was excellent as Despina. I think Carlos Chausson did ok for his part, but I had a hard time getting past those devilish eyebrows. It was just weird to me how the Zurich opera house changed the story around. They made Don Alfonso a much darker character and the whole setting (a school) and the weird staging and everything just totally did not work for me. I had a very hard time getting into this production. Thankgoodness I got it from the library first. If you are looking for an excellent Cosi, I suggest the Gardiner version with Amanda Roocroft, Rose Mannion, Rodney Gilfry and Rainer Trost. It is the most beautiful Cosi I know of today.
Is the review positive or negative? 