Dvd Mozartcosi Fan Tutte

I just wanted to point out that the Italian DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is actually 5.0, not 5.1 as indicated on the Blu-ray's package. That having been said, this Blu-ray features excellent performances, most especially by tenor Topi Lehtipuu as Ferrando and soprano Miah Persson as Fiordiligi. Audio quality is excellent, as is the quality of the 1080i video presentation. While I perhaps like the 2006 Glyndebourne blu-ray of this opera slightly better, this edition from Salzburg is also highly recommended.

Guth's concept here is muddled, but even that can't keep the native ebullience of Mozart from reaching its intended target. Put aside lingering qualms about political incorrectness, and even the conceptual weirdness of this particular production, and just listen to the glorious music. Recommended.

Cosi fan tutte has been problematical from virtually its very first performance. I have little doubt Mozart and his librettist da Ponte were only too aware of this fact and may frankly have been laughing quietly to themselves over the shocked response to their creation. This bright and often funnily farcical production leaves the controversy by the wayside and emphasizes the buffoonery, albeit with a just slightly dark, even black, sense of humor that pops up a time or two to take the audience by surprise. The Glyndebourne production was a bit more refined, but this bawdy take on Cosi may well be more entertaining and comes highly recommended.