Cosi Fan Tutte is not my favourite of all operas, but the Covent Garden production this week was truly wonderful. To fully appreciate an opera you have to be there, to witness the live production and it's multi dimensionality. The Royal Opera House is a delight. It exudes class, albeit of a rather fading variety, and provides an experience that only a few of us get to taste.
Mozart's music has stood the test of time and still seems remarkable. His ability to show human emotions through music is remarkable, and and almost packed house on monday night were enthralled, mesmerised and thoroughly entertained by this great production.
Getting there means a train journey and a reasonable walk through crowded London streets, and I find that quite uncomfortable. The number of homeless seems to grow each time I visit, and while there are people struggling to survive, we were indulging ourselves with a meal out and expensive tickets. Yes I felt pangs of something approaching guilt and was reminded of how we as a society are divided, and not just into haves and have nots.
Opera is not to everyone's taste, it is something that may or not may grow on you with exposure, but it does require an ability to concentrate in order to follow a silly story and an ability to appreciate the intricacy of a musical score, and three hours can seem a very long time.
Each new production, requires new interpretations and this was no exception. There were two things that still have be baffled and I would appreciate input on this. During the overture, the cast in full traditional costume took curtain calls, unapplauded, but acted as if otherwise. The second thing was an illuminated COSI FAN TUTTE was deliberately edited towards the end of the second act, to read COSI FAN TUTTI. The subtlety of which has passed me by.
Mozart's music has stood the test of time and still seems remarkable. His ability to show human emotions through music is remarkable, and and almost packed house on monday night were enthralled, mesmerised and thoroughly entertained by this great production.
Getting there means a train journey and a reasonable walk through crowded London streets, and I find that quite uncomfortable. The number of homeless seems to grow each time I visit, and while there are people struggling to survive, we were indulging ourselves with a meal out and expensive tickets. Yes I felt pangs of something approaching guilt and was reminded of how we as a society are divided, and not just into haves and have nots.
Opera is not to everyone's taste, it is something that may or not may grow on you with exposure, but it does require an ability to concentrate in order to follow a silly story and an ability to appreciate the intricacy of a musical score, and three hours can seem a very long time.
Each new production, requires new interpretations and this was no exception. There were two things that still have be baffled and I would appreciate input on this. During the overture, the cast in full traditional costume took curtain calls, unapplauded, but acted as if otherwise. The second thing was an illuminated COSI FAN TUTTE was deliberately edited towards the end of the second act, to read COSI FAN TUTTI. The subtlety of which has passed me by.
