Following Director Sir David McVicar’s acclaimed productions of Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, the final instalment of his productions of Mozart’s Da Ponte trilogy for Opera Australia, Così fan tutte, makes its eagerly anticipated Melbourne premiere tonight.
McVicar’s presentation of the iconic trilogy has received widespread praise with critics citing “McVicar’s inspired and insightful exploration of the Mozart-Da Ponte masterpieces is one of Opera Australia’s finest recent achievements” (The Australian, 2016).
Described as “…a richly rewarding production musically and dramatically, which charms, provokes and surprises, sending you home feeling unexpectedly moved and pondering the vagaries of love.” (Limelight 2016), McVicar’s interpretation of Così fan Tutte is both beautiful and profound, exemplifying his well-earned reputation as one of opera’s most eminent directors.
The eagerly awaited Melbourne premiere of this production will be performed by a star cast comprising of some of Opera Australia’s finest talents; Jane Ede making her role debut, Anna Dowsley, Taryn Fiebig, Samuel Dundas and Richard Anderson, along with 2018 Operalia prize winner, Belurusian tenor Pavel Petrov, who makes his Australian and role debut.
Conducting the performance will be Canadian Maestra Keri-Lynn Wilson, making her Australian debut. A frequent guest conductor of leading opera companies and orchestras around the world, Wilson will lead this stellar cast alongside the Opera Australia Chorus and Orchestra Victoria in Mozart’s opera that sets music of impossible beauty to an intriguing story about love and fidelity.
“Così fan tutte!” (All women are the same!); so believes the cynical old philosopher Don Alfonso and his reckless young friends, the officers Guglielmo and Ferrando agree to put his theory to the test, participating in an elaborate charade, attempting the seduction of each other’s fiancées – sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. The four young people soon discover more about each other, themselves and life itself than any of them have bargained for.
Absurd? Yes, but Mozart’s luminous music takes the absurd and makes it sublime. With set and costume designed by Mortiz Junge, the brains behind the incredible costumes of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at the Metropolitan Opera and both set and costumes of The Tempest at The Royal Opera, Così fan tutte will transport its audience to another time.
Così fan tutte
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 14 – 25 May 2019
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Samuel Dundas as Guglielmo, Richard Anderson as Don Alfonso, Anna Dowsley as Dorabella, Jane Ede as Fiordiligi and Pavel Petrov as Ferrando in Opera Australia’s 2019 production of Così fan tutte at Arts Centre Melbourne – photo by Jeff Busby