Gemitaiz Noi Siamo Così

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (1932-1988) was one of the most eminent opera directors of the second half of the 20th century. His productions not only graced the repertoires of opera houses in Salzburg, Milan and New York, but also enhanced television programming with original, classical opera films produced exclusively by Unitel. Ponnelle always bestowed particular love and care on Mozart's operas, whether popular works such as "Die Zauberflöte" and "Figaro," or less known works such as "La clemenza di Tito," "Idomeneo" and "Mitridate."

A revolutionary treatment of one of the "sacred cows" of the opera repertoire. Daniel Barenboim, who here conducts, invited Munich film director Doris Dorrie to produce Cosi fan tutte for the Staatsoper Berlin in 2002, and the resulting project drew plaudits from die-hard Mozart fans as well as introducing a whole new generation to the opera genre…

Mozart's genius in setting to music Da Ponte's comic play of love, infidelity and forgiveness marks Così fan tutte as one of the great works of art from the Age of Enlightenment. Nicholas Hytner's beautiful production for the Glyndebourne Festival in 2006, with its sure touch and theatrical know-how, lives up to its promise to be 'shockingly traditional', while Iván Fischer teases artful performances from an outstanding international cast of convincing young lovers.

Riccardo Muti’s conducting of one of Mozart’s most beloved operas was hailed in the press for its “freshness, rapidity and wit” and for “its wonderfully balanced rollercoaster of emotions”. Muti’s authoritative approach to Mozart’s music and the remarkably homogeneous team of international soloists were equally applauded. The outstanding performances by four of today’s leading Mozart singers - Barbara Frittoli Angelika Kirchschlager, Bo Skovhus and Michael Schade - were matched by the thoroughly musical approach to Mozart’s score taken by director Roberto de Simone…

A revolutionary treatment of one of the "sacred cows" of the opera repertoire. Daniel Barenboim, who here conducts, invited Munich film director Doris Dorrie to produce Cosi fan tutte for the Staatsoper Berlin in 2002, and the resulting project drew plaudits from die-hard Mozart fans as well as introducing a whole new generation to the opera genre.

It takes a long time to find such a distinguished conductor who, in his early 20s, has already conducted orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic with great success. You will find what you are looking for in this class with the conductor Daniel Harding, who was born in 1975. After many great CD recordings, Harding's work can now be experienced in a fascinating DVD production: in the recording of Mozart's opera »Così fan tutte« at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2005 - staged by Patrice Chéreau, the director of the legendary Bayreuth-Rings from 1980. Elina Garança, the new star in the Mozart heavens (who released a sensational Mozart recital on Virgin Classics in November 2005), is there as Dorabella.

Mozart's third and final opera with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, the hugely ambitious dramatic comedy Così fan Tutte (roughly translated as "They're All Like That"), is brought passionately to life in a first-class production conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and featuring one of the great starring roles for Cecilia Bartoli. Filmed live at the Zurich Opera House in February 2000 on a set that visualizes the subtitle "The School for Lovers," the plot revolves around two army officers arguing about the fidelity of their brides, then setting out to test their chastity.

Così fan tutte is the third most-frequently performed work at the festival after Le nozze di Figaro and Die Zauberflöte. This DVD provides a closer look at a classical staging from the Salzburg Festival in the series of important opera productions seen at the festival in the last decades. Riccardo Muti had made a sensational Salzburg début in 1971 and this Così fan tutte was his first Mozart opera at the festival. It was acclaimed by both the general public and international critics, who were virtually unanimous in their praise of the aesthetic quality of the production. Muti was praised for his authoritative approach to Mozart’s music, while the remarkably homogeneous team of international soloists was equally applauded. The singers form an admirably cohesive ensemble and all of them are outstanding Mozart singers.