MOZART, W.A.: Cosi fan tutte (Drottningholm Court Theatre, 1984) (NTSC)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
COSÌ FAN TUTTE

Opera in Two Acts

Ann Christine Biel, Maria Höglind,
Lars Tibell, Magnus Linden,
Ulla Severin, Enzo Florimo

The Drottningholm Court Theatre Chorus and Orchestra
Arnold Östman, conductor

Willy Decker, stage direction
Directed and produced for TV byThomas Olofsson

From the Drottningholm Court Theatre 1984

Picture format: NTSC 4:3
Sound format: PCM Stereo
Menu Languages: German, French, English, Spanish
Subtitle Languages: Italian, German, French, English, Spanish
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Running time: 139 mins
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)

• From his initial appointing as Drottningholm's Artistic Director, Arnold Östman set about establishing a unique Mozart style, attempting to recapture an authentic flavour through detailed historical research and the use of period instruments. He collaborates with German producer Willy Decker on this ever-popular Mozart comedy with an extensively rehearsed cast of young Swedish singers who "… proved a triumph of stylish teamwork, with singers and orchestra listening to each other, almost as it were breathing together." Daily Telegraph


• The entire conception of da Ponte's ingenious libretto is one of artificial comedy, matched by Mozart's sparkling score. Two young Italian officers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, are persuaded by the elderly philosopher Don Alfonso to test the fidelity of their respective fiancées with a twenty-four hour wager. They pretend to go off on active service, but return to their ladies disguised as a pair of Albanian noblemen. After much farcical persuasion by Despina, the maid, Fiordiligi and Dorabella fall in love with each other's former lover and only when they are about to be married by a fake notary (Despina in disguise) is the scheming plot finally revealed.

"Magnus Linden (Guglielmo) and Lars Tibell (Ferrando) make their roles magnificently farcical" Expressen

"…the Oestman pièce de resistance was Mozart's Così fan tutte" Financial Times