SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL OPERA REVIEW

Mozart, Così fan tutte: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Juventus Lyrica. Conductor: Hernán Schvartzman, Teatro Avenida, Buenos Aires. 20.8.2010. (JSJ)

Director: Ana D’Anna

Sets: Daniel Feijóo

Costumes: María Jaunarena

Lighting: Ana D’Anna and Fernando Micucci

Chorus: Miguel Pesce

Cast:

Fiordiligi: Sabrina Cirera / Macarena Valenzuela

Dorabella: Guadalupe Barrientos / Lara Mauro

Despina: Laura Polverini / Laura Penchi

Don Alfonso: Alberto Jáuregui Lorda / Orestes Chlopecki

Guglielmo: Santiago Tiscornia / Juan Feico

Ferrando: Santiago Bürgi / Patricio Oliveira

 

From L. Santiago Tiscornia (Guglielmo), Santiago Bürgi (Ferrando), Laura Polverini (Despina), Guadelupe Barrientos (Dorabella) and Sabrina Cirera (Fiordiligi). Photo © Liliana Morsia


In conjunction with the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague and the Dutch foundation OPERA2DAY, Juventus Lyrica put on Mozart’s ever popular Così fan tutte for its third offering of the year.

But this a production with a difference, with the use of period instruments to recreate the sound of the day, played by a mixed orchestra of local players and alumni and graduates of the Conservatoire, under the baton of Argentine and Conservatoire graduate Hernán Schvartzman. Further, Schvartzman was clothed in period dress, although this didn’t appear to constrain him in any way, as was the clavichordist, who, again unusually, played on stage.

In line with the music, the setting also was “period”, and as befits the work it was fairly simple and tasteful. But d’Anna also has a penchant for taking the action out into the auditorium, in this case the opening and some arias, which seemed to detract (and distract) rather than add to the work.

On stage the two sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella were sung by Sabrina Cirera and Guadelupe Barrientos, who were well matched both visually and vocally – and while Cirera's style was reserved, Barrientos was energetic, at times overly so. Similarly, Guglielmo and Ferrando, played respectively by Santiago Tiscornia and Santiago Bürgi, were also well matched, although displaying less contrast between the two characters.  Of the two plotters,  Laura Polverini as Despina was excellent, with sound vocal line, but Alberto Jáuregui Lorda as Don Alfonso sounded below par and failed to establish his authority.

The chorus were well prepared and the orchestra enthusiastic.

 

Jonathan Spencer Jones

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