Barbara, perché fuggi? - Per pietà (Amanda Roocroft); Così fan tutte, Mozart, Munich 1996

CAST (in order of appearance):
Fiordiligi: Amanda Roocroft
Ferrando: Rainer Trost

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Production by Bayerische Staatsoper
Director: Dieter Dorn
Stage and costume designer: Jürgen Rose
Lighting: Max Keller
Conductor: Peter Schneider

Recorded in 1996 at Cuvilliés-Theater, Munich by Bayerische Rundfunk
TV-director Thomas (and Johanna) Olofsson

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Is it possible to take Mozart’s ”Così fan tutte” seriously? Yes, with a director like Dieter Dorn and a cast like this, who gives music and acting the same minute attention. In my opinion, this mid-90s production from the Bayerische Staatsoper balances perfectly between comedy and poignant character psychology as true love is put to the test and everyone’s trust betrayed in the end. The characters may start off as naïve or cynical but as they all gradually get caught up in the game, they undergo fundamental change. This production makes me believe in every character, and I have yet to see an ending of Così that moves me as deeply as this one. And most important of all: everything that goes on on stage is grounded in Mozart’s music (which is not always a given in opera productions…)

Another stroke of genius in this production, in my opinion, is the set and light design by Jürgen Rose and Max Keller respectively; a combination of undefined period costume/props with a non-realistic set (the white ”frames” creating a box-within-a-box-feeling), open all the way to the concrete back of the stage, high-lighted with distinct colours for each scene. This set is a wonder in itself, but the effect when doing it in a theatre like the Cuvilliés-Theater (built in heavy, gold-red rococo style) is simply stunning. The transmission, of course, cannot convey this as strongly as the real-life experience but you still get a sense of it, especially going from the Ouverture into the first scene, during Soave sia il vento (Act 1) and during Guglielmo’s aria ”Donne mie” (Act 2).

The conditions for this TV-production were unique, allowing for camera-work closer to film than regular transmissions while still performed live, and were made possible through a collaboration between Bayerische Staatsoper under sir Peter Jonas and legendary producer Dietrich von Watzdorf and executive producer Peter Windgassen at Bayerische Rundfunk.

I was, during these years, the close working partner of my father, who was the TV-director of this production. Parallel to teaching me this wonderful trade, he trusted me with a considerable creative range in his productions, that I think few 21-year-olds have enjoyed. In my own career, I never saw anything that matched the professionalism I met at Bayerische Rundfunk, most especially the camera team, and I regard the experience of this ”Così” as quite formative in my own career as a TV-director.

ABOUT THE SUBTITLES
The subtitles in this video are non-optional, but if you would like a subtitle-free version, let me know. If you find fault with the translation, I am entirely to blame as it is my own; I am not a professional translator but passionate about it : )

AND LAST, ABOUT THE QUALITY OF IMAGE AND SOUND
This video originates from a S-VHS-tape where unfortunately the sound edit was not a 100% complete, which can be heard at times, and as any video cassette it bears the marks of its 30 years… My advice is not to blow it up too much, but as long as you don’t expect HD quality it don’t think it has to be a problem.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this video!