Nardus Williams and Amitai Pati in ENO's 2022 Così Fan Tutte. Photo Lloyd Winters.The plot is essentially a measure of cynicism pitted against naïveté, where fidelity is tested by the use of deception and disguise. Two commissioned officers (Guglielmo and Ferrando) are in love with and betrothed to two sisters (Fiordiligi and Dorabella), but their cynical friend Don Alfonso believes that all women are naturally susceptible to flattery and therefore inclined to be unfaithful. He challenges that the sisters are no different. Refuting the assertion, the men accept his wager and agree to do his bidding to test his hypothesis. He has them pretend to be called away to war, later returning and assuming disguises in which they woo each other's fiancé. Don Alfonso enlists the able assistance of Despina a maid, to encourage the ladies to discard their prim reticence and embrace the opportunity for additional romance.
The staging relies heavily on director Phelim McDermott’s use of artists drawn from Improbable (the company of creative improvisers of which he is also co-artistic director). The troupe which appear as circus performers, novelty acts and side show curiosities, lend colour and context to most scenes and conveniently act as set and scenery shifters — although most seemed a little under-rehearsed on press night and were of limited use on the visible occasions when the inevitable malfunctions occurred on such an (unnecessarily?) busy stage.
For Neal Davies, it was another day at the office delivering a dependable if slightly disengaged Don Alfonso, whilst Soraya Mafi as Despina radiated confident, contrary, coquettish charm, in every scene in which she appeared. Of the lovers, Hanna Hip as Dorabella and Benson Wilson as Guglielmo imbued vitality and some much needed sexual oomph whilst Nardus Williams as Fiordigili and Amitai Pati as Ferrando gave a slightly less assured account of themselves in terms of stage presence, despite possessing the required notes.
Jeremy Sams’ somewhat unimaginative translation is littered with lazy metaphors and corny rhyming couplets, which may help the singers during the rehearsal period but add a hackneyed feel to many of the on-stage exchanges. The orchestra under the baton of Kerem Hasan was largely attentive to their young master, but didn’t always fully match his commitment. However the sensitive Set soft breezes blowing (Soave sis il vento) was a high point and exceptionally well realised by all concerned, both on stage and in the pit.
Soraya Mafi, Neal Davies, Benson Wilson, Amitai Pati, Hanna Hipp, and Nardus Williams in ENO's 2022 Così Fan Tutte. Photo Lloyd Winters.
