Guth Vibrations: Così From Salzburg

A hard-to-please friend txt'd earlier today from Salzburg re: the premiere of the new Cosi Fan Tutte (earlier on OC) last night in Salzburg: "Best Cosi ever- seriously".

Apparently Guth rocked, Leonard too, Petibon did very well, Persson too, and the guys rawked, except Skovhus, but then he never does. Adam Fischer led a lightning-fast reading of the score, flaunting his Wiener.

Claus Guth's final installment in his Mozart-DaPonte trilogy for Salzburg, this time, blessedly, without Niki Harnoncourt in the pit and without heroin on stage, seems to be an elegant, unsettling take on the opera -- with iPods.

It was broadcast live on Austrian TV (a true sign of civilization), and Opera Chic will enjoy a nicely burned Region 0 DVD of it over the weekend, and you probably won't, but she'll report back. In the meantime, YouTube has some bits and pieces in the usual sorry YouTube lofi way.

Comments

[A Real Cad]

This is good, smart stuff, the stuff we'll never get in America because the old ladies and their husbands would lose their sh t and the queens would find something to complain about the way they always do. They hated Zimmerman, they would throw rocks at this Cosi.

[Linda Ginsburg]

Bravo A Real Cad!

[Thomas]

Wow, I like the production. I loved Nozze di Figaro by Guth. I hope the on Giovanni of last year will be released in DVD. And I am very impressed by Leonard that I heard last year in Santa Fe, at the Met and Carnegie Hall for Horne's birthday celebration. Cannot wait for Opera Chic comments on Cosi. Lucky you!!!

[Robert in New Orleans]

Heh, you'll watch it this weekend; I be's watchin' it now courtesy of the internets and file-sharing fun-friends. Just started, but here's a few impressions: the leading ladies r rockin it and I'm juss in luv with Leonard so hush yer mouf. Skohvus has already made some unpleasant soundz, but he has stage presence. I'm not an ole lady (but I did hate that Zimmerman Sonnambula) but I'm liking this production so far. It's elegant as U say and (halfway through the f1rst act) a nice updating of the time period to contemporary mid-century modern stylee. So far no boolsheet metaconcepts have materialized.

[Lou Ann D.]

I love the way you always rub in that region 0 sh't. Anyway, looks really good. And you're right about the old men and ladies because I have to sit with them at the movie theater to watch the Met HD productions. BUT, that Zimmerman production was sh't. I do like modern, "hip" productions; I like any production that comes together well with acting, singing, conducting, etc., but that Sonnambula was a mess.

[Constantine A. Papas]

Leonard is destined for greatness. I saw her for the first time at Met in Romeo et Juliet. She was a riot with shoe-throwing and all. She stood next to Netrebko and Alagna, artistically and vocally, as equal. And she is still in her 20s if I'm not mistake. She has it all, and her confidence for a young singer is amazing!

[Chris]

I just adore modern stagings but I also want the music modernized too. Why not have a twelve tone Mozart score to match the 21st century setting? Then we would have something to celebrate. I just hate stuffy old 18th century music.

[DOA]

Pst: it will also be broadcast (actually all 3 Guth Salzburg machinations) on 3SAT 14th-16th Aug. For those who missed live.

Did I like it? On the whole, yes. But he loves rubbing your nose in it, doesn't he? Playing with fire, clay feet, getting your white vest dirty. Apparently we need such subtle hints.
I will keep this, but I will re-watch the Staatsoper's romantic, harmless version, and enjoy Schade and Kirchschlager, who had the advantage to Guth's otherwise superb cast.

[Wilhelm Meister]

This production, which I watched on the Siemens Internet feed (gorgeous HD video images, great sound, good Guth), will be shown by Emerging Pictures in many U.S. movie theaters. IIRC, the dates in my city are November 17th and 21st, 2009.

[Lou Ann D]

I've seen the first act on Siemens. Bo is interesting but not the best singer. He is like a rat-packer on acid or something. Leonard so far in my headset sounds a little shouty at times (but a beautiful voice) next to the controlled Persson. Topi is a bit tall for a tenor isn't he? Not used to seein Ferrando taller than Gugielmo. Wonderful production so far.

[Furst]

Cannot be "Best Cosi Ever", seriously or otherwise. Uber ensemble piece though this may be (and this is a proposition we would concur with) it is for, all that, Fiordiligi's opera lock stock and barrel. We generally prefer our Fioridiligi's to be full lyrics and have specifically heard 5 or 6 who Persson couldn't fantasize about touching in her wildest dreams. Now, we like Persson, we look forward to her Sophie and Fiordiligi at the Met, but simply assert that her presence in the cast necessarily imposes limitations on the excellence of the production. (Especially since we heard those Firoridiligis in excellent cast and reasonably interesting productions.)

While we would hesitate to place Leonard with the best Dorabellas we've heard, we would not be at all surprised if she did, in fact achieve this status. For our purposes Kirchschlager (per DOA above) remains our favorite with Graham a close second. Mentzer very good and Kozena lovely sounding but on the whole quite disappointing. Frittoli in video sited by DOA - also seen live - far superior to Persson and among the sopranos alluded to above.

Generally despise Guth and find his Figaro even more problematic than last years horrid Giovanni. That said, we must admit that this actually look pretty good from that prospective and we are at the least very curious.

OC, as is almost always the case, is right in celebrating the absence of Niki from the Pit, although we did prefer his 2002 Don to DeBilly's effort last year.

We seem to disagree with the general tenor of opinion regarding Skovhus although we must agree that he is not best seen in the Guth Figaro (but then, none of the well known cast is).

Anyway, "Best Ever" considerations aside this does seem like a most intriguing effort and we eagerly await OC's review.

[Kieran]

Did you see the aria entitled "Smanie implacabili?"
You will notice the set has a first-floor mezzanine.
Isabel Leonard stands on the shelf-balustrade.It's quite a drop. This is very dangerous!

Does the director has a secret desire to see the poor girl spending the rest of her life in a wheelchair?

This is like watching Michael Jackson dangle babies off balconies.