23. Act II Finale, part 3 (Così fan tutte Met'96)

[entropyftw]

Don Alfonso just sits back and thinks, "I'll enjoy this."

[naumandolphin]

I saw this production.

Thank you!

Susanne Mentzer is ridiculous.

[MinnaWagner]

Thanks so much for posting the whole thing.

[davcos22]

I love Cecilias performance, great Despina, great Despina!!!! She looks fantastic as a notario and better as a doctor. Brava, bravísima!!!!!!

[TedMichaelMorgan]

I love this production. I was it on television with my father. We both loved it.

[bbbartolo]

I saw this production, and have 3 recorded versions, but I forgot just how good this was! Bravo a tutti, and thanks for posting.

[marcorichmond]

Cosi is my all time favourite opera, but the production conducted (and directed) by John Eliot Gardiner is I think better, with a happy (and surprise) ending.

[LienPT]

It is not fair this ending with Despina...=( She wanted to prove the grooms her mistresses futile nature, and she did it. They fell for the trap, so Despina actually done them all a favour in teaching everybody a nice lesson on humility and prudence. She deserves a good ending, c'mon... =D

Great performances, though! ;)

[UlfenDaddy]

Despina: "Manco malse a me l'han fatta che a molt' altri anchio la fo." "The evil things I've done to others have now been done to me." The libretto describes her as a "scheming" person- she's not an innocent bystander here; that Don Alfonso has used her own nature against her is part of the story line, and yes she too realizes that there were intentions and forces beyond Her control at work here too. She's also (rightly) quite depressed at the end. Met orchestra is FANTASTIC in this!

[drtmuir]

I agree with you.

[TedMichaelMorgan]

@LienPT Hard to call this one--the opera allows for some play in interpregation. I am with Despina in the discovery that what she felt was true was true.

[TedMichaelMorgan]

My favorite 20 minutes (give or take) in opera defines this finale. Absolute perfection. Even beats La Nozze and Don Giovanni--tough call.

[leoperarm]

I love this! thank you! Love Despina's ending!

[despina64]

Carol Vaness est éblouissante du début à la fin. J'ai vraiment un faible pour elle

Les autres sont bien aussi

[rossmcl177]

That is wonderful. My favourite opera - and you've just introduced me to one of the best performances of it I have ever seen. Thank you so much. :))

[antmusique]

Heh, you're welcome! I love this performance as well, even though I think the Glyndebourne production with Miah Persson et al. is just as lovely, if not more (still, no one can beat Allen as Don Alfonso and Bartoli as Despina).

[fritzwunderlich86]

thats what i think too. Glyndenbourne-cosi is so great. Lehtipuu is absolutely unbeatable

[papagena92]

I agree with you!!!!!

[TedMichaelMorgan]

@antmusique Both performances are splendid. Hard to pick one over the other. This is also my favourite opera and I love the other two Da Pont/Mozart operas as much.

[hillevifan]

It's actually nice to see Despina get the bad ending, and the lovers end up happy for once! Very unique interpretation and of course the singing is amazing...