Reviews
COSI FAN TUTTE

Flame-grilled opera

Co-Opera has come home with its new production of Mozart's story of consuming passions, "Aussie fan tutte". It starts at a barbecue. The soldiers become sailor. The lovers become French men Gateau and Clouseay. The sisters have immense hair. The confusions are played out on a suburban lawn.

The score has been reduced and long passages of dialogue cut out, to leave a delightful evening of arias, duets and ensembles.

Andrew Packer directs with flair but the action could become even more manic, given the confidence with which the singers handle their music. The Frenchness of the boyfriends could be played up in their accents and their costumes. Several of the roles are double cast. Jillian Chatterton and Samantha Rubenhold are Fiordiligi, Cherie Boogaart and Virginia Rawlinson, Dorabella. Simon O'Loughlin and Ben Rasheed are Ferrando, and the role of Don Alfonso is taken by both Peter Deane and Nicholas Lester.

The cast is completed by Teresa La Rocca's accomplished Despina and Andrew Turner's virile Guglielmo. Brian Chatterton, with a string quartet at his disposal as well as a grand piano, accompanies and conducts with enjoyment. More experienced singers have stagecraft on their side but there are standout performances from Simon O'Loughlin and Samantha Rubenhold.

Ewart Shaw, The Adelaide Advertiser, Tuesday 27 Nov 2001.

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