Mozart's comedic opera premieres fresh edition at arts festival

As a highlight of the ongoing Shanghai International Arts Festival, a new production of Mozart's opera Cosi fan tutte will premiere at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai's Xuhui district, on Sunday. The semi-staged production, created by the Shanghai Opera House, features Chinese and international musicians.

In the past few years, the Shanghai Opera House has systematically produced three Mozart operas with librettos by Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838).From Don Giovanni in 2020 to The Marriage of Figaro last year, and now the comedic opera, the venue "has accomplished this ambitious project that marks a new milestone in the contemporary interpretation of classical opera" says Conductor Xu Zhong, who is also the artistic director of the Shanghai Opera House.

Premiered in 1790, a year before the premature death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) at age 35, Cosi fan tutte, or "Thus Do All "in English, is a satirical romantic comedy that explores themes such as the frailty of love, the complexity of humanity, and moral ambiguity.

The story is about two young men disguised as princes from foreign countries who make a bet on whether each can seduce the other's fiancee. The opera, with its provocative subject matter, was not well received until the 20th century, when it began to be appreciated for its psychological depth and musical richness, according to the Shanghai Opera House.

One of Mozart's most sophisticated compositions, the opera features masterful ensemble writing, including arias, duets, trios, and choruses to reflect the changing emotions of the characters.

The Mozart opera "is like mint candy, pure and clear, that takes one back to our original aspirations for making music", Xu says. "We want to create a comedy with clearer singing, more accurate rhythms, and nuanced performances, making it look light and easy, but with great depth and insight."

The new production features French soprano Chloe Chaume and Italian mezzo-soprano Serena Malfi portraying the lead female characters, and Chinese baritone Dou Qianming and Italian tenor Alessandro Scotto di Luzio portraying the lead male characters.

The Shanghai Opera House also invited the principle cellist and principal bassoonist of the Orchestre de Paris from France, as well as Italian musician Raffaella Angelastri playing the clavichord. The production invited outstanding musicians from the Shanghai International Arts Festival orchestra to join the production.

The opera house presented a series of semi-staged opera productions in recent years, such as Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, and L'elisir d'amore.

"They are not simplified editions, but more condensed versions that retain the essence of the music and full dramatic tension," Xu says.

Zhu Jiajun, the opera's designer, created lightweight settings that ensure the production's easy transportation. "I want to expand the actors' performing area and allow them to walk around the orchestra to bring the performance closer to the audience.

"We can easily take the show to a university campus or perform in any other condition," he says. "This way, we can host colorful educational programs and introduce the opera to wider audiences."

The production has also been incorporated into the educational collaboration project between the Shanghai Opera House and the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. Students are invited to attend rehearsals to witness the whole production process and receive guidance from the artists. This is an innovative program to promote opera and cultivate future musical talents, according to Huang Jingyu, vice-director of the opera house.

zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn