Following Deutsche Grammophon's critically acclaimed 2012 release of
Don Giovanni, this concert presentation of Così fan tutte is the second in a series of
Mozart's operas to be recorded live at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, under the direction of
Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Star tenor
Rolando Villazón is featured in the role of Ferrando, and he heads a less familiar but certainly accomplished cast, including soprano
Miah Persson as Fiordiligi, mezzo-soprano
Angela Brower as Dorabella, bass
Adam Plachetka as Guglielmo, soprano
Mojca Erdmann as Despina, and baritone
Alessandro Corbelli as Don Alfonso, who are backed by the
Vocalensemble Rastatt and accompanied by the
Chamber Orchestra of Europe. This 18th century romantic farce contains some of
Mozart's loveliest music, which is generously interpreted by
Nézet-Séguin with an ensemble of modern instruments, including a fortepiano in the continuo, rather than a harpsichord. This is a robust-sounding Così, with bold singing and rich orchestral timbres, and the combination of voices in the ensemble numbers is full and gorgeous. Thanks to Deutsche Grammophon's first-rate engineering, the recording is virtually free of audience sounds and is closely miked to give the semblance and presence of a studio recording.