There are many DVD versions of Cosi fan Tutte. For once, Peter Sellars, known for setting operas meant to take place in 18th century drawing rooms on bomb sites, adds a welcome roughness to this elusive work by setting it in a modern American diner, with the orchestral music coming out of jukeboxes. A spectacular production from Berlin, directed by Doris Dorrie, is set in the 1970s and has everyone transformed into hippies in Act 2. A recommendable and highly intelligent version, one that emphasizes the opera's dark side, is Jurgen Flimm's for Zurich Opera, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and starring Cecilia Bartoli and Agnes Baltsa.
This year is the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth and Taipei's two orchestras are already well advanced in preparations to mark the occasion. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), in addition to this Cosi and Figaro (the latter due on 30 June, 2 and July 4), is combining with the Wiener Blaserphilharmonie in two mostly-Mozart concerts (23 and 28 April), and there will be one by the Vienna forces alone (April 26). In addition the NSO will present concerts in Taipei's Recital Hall of Mozart songs (May 13), a "Mozart's Family Concert" (May 20) and an evening of Mozart's choral music (May 27).
Meanwhile the Taipei Symphony Orchestra will present productions of Don Giovanni in August, followed by The Magic Flute in September.
Finally, rumors are rife of a single cycle of the Ring operas from the NSO in September, with James Morris as Wotan, and Linda Watson as Brunnhilde. Morris was the Metropolitan Opera's Wotan for over a decade, and Watson is the new Brunnhilde at Bayreuth. Should this rumor prove to be true, remember where you saw it first.
For your information :
What: Cosi fan Tutte
Where: Taipei's National Concert Hall, at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 21-1, Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (
When: Tonight at 7.30; Sunday at 2.30, and Tuesday at 7.30.
Tickets: From NT$400 to NT$2,000. Call (02) 3393 9888, or go to www.artsticket.com.tw
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