Nikolaus Harnoncourt has come up with a new production of Cosi fan tutte
at the Zurich Tonhalle and conducted by himself.  According to Reinhard j.
Brembeck the fine critic of the Sueddeeutsche Zeitung here in Munich, it
was a roaring succeess.And that in spite of:

- An orchestra mix of old and new instruments, only the trumpets horns
and drums being old--"the sound is much less smooth...but,for that, more
individualistic, more tense, and richer in color.  That way they cut a
swath into the ouverture, with their sycopation, their counter-rhythms,
and theirdissonances..."

- Turning the opera from buffa into something of a tragedy, describing
in terms of deep psychology the defeat of love rather than its triumph
in terms of high spirit

- The casting of Cecilia Bartoli as Fiordilgi, a role she had not before
attempted, but apparently brought off superbly.

Denis Fodor                     Internet:[log in to unmask]