08 July 2008 - 08H50
Aix greets Kiarostami's 'Così fan tutte'
This year's opera festival in the French city of Aix en Provence presents Mozart's renowned "Così fan tutte". Its director is Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, whose "The taste of cherries" won the 2007 Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival.
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Comments
Bravo!!
After the ghastly experience of Zaide on Monday, we really hoped that an opera buffo on the grand style would live up to it's creators' designs. What a wonderful evening. The music, singing, acting & amazing sets truly put us back in the mood for more great music at Aix. The final scene was a masterpiece, but the backdrop throughout the performance of moving water & sky made for a truly sensational night. Thank you.
But what on earth persuaded the Aix Festival authorities to allow Zaide space in their repertoire? Dreadful acting, crass mise-en-scene & who needs to pay top dollar for an extremely lack-lustre attempt at political shinnanigans in the Middle East. An expensive mistake for all of us who were unfortunate enough to buy tickets.
Talent and Elegance
It was an intense pleasure to hear that the Belgian Director of the Aix festival had decided to chose the best young international voices he could find to serve Mr Kiarostami's elegant stage setting of Cosi Fan Tutte. I was at the Premiere which was excellent, but whatever superlative you chose to use, the performance on the following Sunday with the complete original cast, for the Icelandic tenor had been ill for the Premiere, apply this superlative to the singers, the Camerata von Salzburg, Mr Rousset, the agile conductor and Mr Kiarostami.
Among the orignal cast of singers, there are some future greats and NO MISTAKE!
A sensational lesson in art and wisdom from Mr Kiarostami in which talent served good taste
Rollo.
Elegance, youth and future "Greats".
he Director of this year's Festival has taken a wise decision in putting together a young cast, who captivated the public on the First Night. On the Sunday night following, with Finnur the tenor back in form, the entire cast gave an even more splendid performance. Applause being the indication of satisfaction, I saw no dissatisfaction anywhere, though I read articles from so-called music critics who sounded jealous, yes jealous, because of the international distribution. Mr Kiarostami's scenery and Ms Obolensky's costumes were shown off to their full value by some of tomorrow's opera stars, and let us not forget the athletic performnce with the baton by Mr Rousset.
These highly talented young singers could not have served good taste better.
ROLLO.