Name: Mozart, W.A.: Così Fan Tutte (Sung in English) by Charles Mackerras
Brand: Charles Mackerras
SKU: 095115315224
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (455 reviews)

ALBUM

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Così fan tutte is an ideal candidate for Chandos' Opera in English series; it's so talky and the libretto is so verbally witty and subtle that hearing it in English gives it an immediacy that's not possible when it's sung in a language in which one isn't fluent. The English version by Marmaduke Browne, adapted by John Cox, is very fine, natural, and well-fitted to the music. The performances are of such high quality that appreciating this version doesn't require the listener to set aside expectations for musical excellence in order to understand the text. Charles Mackerras leads the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir in a sparkling, deliciously perky reading of the score; he sets the antic tone by taking the overture at what must be a world's record speed. The orchestra's playing, particularly that of the winds, is breathtakingly agile. The singers are all topnotch vocalists and comedians, making this a truly memorable performance. Thomas Allen as Don Alfonso and Lesley Garrett as Despina nearly steal the show with the natural wittiness (and frequent hilarity) of their delivery, and the polish of their vocalism. Christopher Maltman as Guglielmo and Toby Spence as Ferrando are fresh-voiced and winningly idealistic, and both have voices ideal for Mozart: supple, but warm and full. This is one of Spence's finest recorded performances, intensely lyrical and impassioned; Mozart seems to suit his voice more easily than the Baroque repertoire for which he's better known. Maltman's baritone is full and virile, and he makes the most of the role's humor. Janice Watson and Diana Montague as Fiordiligi and Dorabella quickly establish their characters as spoiled, entitled aristocrats who grow in the course of the opera into more complex, troubled individuals. Their singing is animated and clean, their musicianship is flawless, and they are wickedly funny, besides. Happily, Chandos' sound here is clean and present, with excellent balance, unlike some of their releases in this series, in which the balance is eccentrically skewed, in a misguided effort to create a sense of theatrical space. This recording should be of strong interest to anyone who loves the opera, and for anyone who doesn't already know it, it makes the ideal introduction to the work since the subtleties of its text are immediately comprehensible and the performance is so compelling.

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Mozart, W.A.: Così Fan Tutte (Sung in English)

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Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Volume 1

1. Così fan tutte, K. 588: Overture (Sung in English)

2. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Trio. Suspect Dorabella? (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

3. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. Swords or pistols? (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

4. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Trio. Woman's faith Is like a phoenix (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

5. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. A poetical fiction! (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

6. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Trio. I shall hire a band of players (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

7. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Duet. This portrait alone Is the face of Adonis (Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

8. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. I can't think what's the matter (Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

9. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. Here they Are (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

10. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Aria. Let me try. My courage fails (Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

11. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. Tell us, for pity's sake (Fiordiligi, Don Alfonso, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

12. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Quintet: Courage fails me! For no evasion (Guglielmo, Ferrando, Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

13. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. It's a comedy, charming! (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

14. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Oh, the soldier's life for me! (Chorus) [Sung in English]

15. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. My friends, the time Is flying (Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

16. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Quintet: You'll write long letters often (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, Chorus) [Sung in English]

17. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. Are they gone? (Dorabella, Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

18. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Trio. O wind gently blowing (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

19. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. So far all's going splendidly (Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

20. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. A hell of an existence (Despina) [Sung in English]

21. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. My ladies, here Is your chocolate and biscuits (Despina, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

22. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Aria. Cease not, remorseless love (Dorabella) [Sung in English]

23. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. Signora Dorabella, Signora Fiordiligi (Despina, Dorabella, Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

24. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Aria. In lovers and in soldiers (Despina) [Sung in English]

25. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. What a silence! (Don Alfonso, Despina) [Sung in English]

26. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Sextet: I've the honour to present you (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Despina, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

27. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. What an outcry! (Don Alfonso, Dorabella, Fiordiligi, Ferrando, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

28. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Aria. Like a fortress in ocean founded (Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

29. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. Stay, I implore you! (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, Dorabella, Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

30. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Aria. O vision so charming (Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

31. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Trio. You seem delighted! (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

32. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Recitative. When you've quite finished laughing (Don Alfonso, Guglielmo, Ferrando) [Sung in English]

33. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Aria. Her eye so alluring (Ferrando) [Sung in English]

Volume 2

1. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Finale. Why has fate my life enshrouded (Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

2. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Finale. To die Is all I long for (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina) [Sung in English]

3. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act I: Finale. Now ladies, calm yourselves (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Despina, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

4. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Well, I declare, you Are a funny pair of ladies (Despina, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

5. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Aria. At fifteen a girl already must be truly wise (Despina) [Sung in English]

6. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Well, sister! What do you think? (Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

7. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Duet. I prefer the gentle dark one (Dorabella, Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

8. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Come at once to the garden (Don Alfonso, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

9. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Duet and Chorus. Gentle zephyr, softly sighing (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Chorus) [Sung in English]

10. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. What Is This masquerading? (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

11. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Quartet: Now give me your hand (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Despina) [Sung in English]

12. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Isn't the weather lovely! (Fiordiligi, Ferrando, Dorabella, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

13. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Duet. This heart That I give you (Guglielmo, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

14. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Cruel one, would you leave me? (Ferrando, Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

15. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. He's leaving. Listen! … (Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

16. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Rondo. Ah, my love, I pray forgive me (Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

Volume 3

1. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: We've done It! (Ferrando, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

2. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Aria. Ladies have such variations (Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

3. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Ah! My brain Is distracted! (Ferrando) [Sung in English]

4. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Cavatina. Her treason Is poison (Ferrando) [Sung in English]

5. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Now at least you Are acting as a sane woman should (Despina, Dorabella, Fiordiligi) [Sung in English]

6. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Aria. Young love Is unrelenting (Dorabella) [Sung in English]

7. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. All the world Is conspiring (Fiordiligi, Guglielmo, Despina, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

8. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Duet. All too slowly the hours Are fleeting (Fiordiligi, Ferrando) [Sung in English]

9. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. That's enough for me! (Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, Ferrando) [Sung in English]

10. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Aria. Man accuses the woman (Don Alfonso, Ferrando, Guglielmo) [Sung in English]

11. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Recitative. Well, gentlemen, you've won them (Despina, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

12. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Finale. Come, my friends, no more delaying (Despina, Chorus, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

13. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Finale. May the love, That has united them (Chorus, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Fiordiligi, Dorabella) [Sung in English]

14. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Finale. Happy lovers! Fate conniving (Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Despina, Chorus) [Sung in English]

15. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Finale. Joy once more now our sorrow replaces (Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina) [Sung in English]

16. Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: Finale. Happy Is the man who calmly takes life strictly as he finds It (Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Ferrando, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso) [Sung in English]

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