Well sung but charmless Così fan tutte

By David Karlin, 23 September 2016

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“Mozart’s music trudged where it should have fizzed”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 22 September 2016

Mozart, Così fan tutte

The Royal Opera

Semyon Bychkov, Conductor

Jan Philipp Gloger, Director

Ben Baur, Set Designer

Karin Jud, Costume Designer

Corinne Winters, Fiordiligi

Angela Brower, Dorabella

Sabina Puértolas, Despina

Daniel Behle, Ferrando

Alessio Arduini, Guglielmo

Johannes Martin Kränzle, Don Alfonso

Royal Opera Chorus

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

Ermonela Jaho returns in triumph to The Royal Opera’s Traviata

Mark Valencia, 8th January

Richard Eyre’s 32-year-old production is rarely out of The Royal Opera’s repertoire for more than a few months at a time, but this particular revival proves very special.

*****

Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

David Karlin, 15th December

Andrei Șerban’s 40 year old take on Puccini's tale of the ice princess largely stands the test of time, but Netrebko and Eyvazov are short of their best form.

***11

Handel’s Ariodante returns home to Covent Garden

Roy Westbrook, 9th December

Jetske Mijnssen’s house debut sees Handel’s opera transposed to a modern-day palace, with Emily D'Angelo angelic in the title role.

****1

The Royal Opera stages its first Makropulos Case

Mark Valencia, 4th November

Katie Mitchell wheels out her tired old tropes in The Makropulos Case, redeemed by its musical performances.

***11

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.

Well sung but charmless: the Royal Opera's new Così fan tutte