Cosi Fan Tutte a review California State University, Northridge, CSUN Campus Theatre

Nov 3, 2011 by admin

“Cosi Fan Tutte” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
October 30, 2011
California State University, Northridge, CSUN Campus Theatre
By Dave Wyne and Donna Broderick

 

Ed. Note: CORRECTION: the singer protraying Despina was incorrectly identified in the original review.

When attending a new operatic production after hearing it will be given a “modern” treatment, it is very easy to immediately feel a sense of dread. Unfortunately, so many wonderful operas have been marred by roughshod, revisionist productions.

Thank goodness, this is not the case with this new production of Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte,” produced by the Department of Music with the Department of Theater at California State University, Northridge. This double-cast production is a breath of fresh air, performed on a set from “The Dating Game,” circa 1972.

The overture was punctuated with the entrance of Don Alfonso and Despina, who assumed the roles of game show host and comely assistant. The two couples, Fiordiligi and Guglielmo, and Dorabella and Ferrando, entered from the audience. On this date, we were treated to the “A” cast, consisting of sopranos Jenny Ohrstrom and Julia Aks as Fiordiligi and Dorabella respectively, along with tenor Derik Dermegerdichian as Ferrando and baritone
Babatunde Akinboboye as Guglielmo. Ben Lin successfully walked the fine line between humor and treachery as Don Alfonso, and Kaylie Ann Warfield gave new meaning to the term, “comic relief” as Despina and her alter egos.

While sung in Italian, a game show marquee doubled as the source of English subtitles. David Aks’ conducting of the CSUN Symphony provided sensitive accompaniment throughout the performance, with some tenuous moments in the upper strings and horns. An electronic keyboard provided the harpsichord continuo for the seco recitatives.

The roughly 300-seat auditorium was an ideal venue for this opera, and the singers were easily heard. Their intonation was “spot-on,” and the duets between Fiordiligi and Dorabella were a delight. In fact, all of the ensemble singing was quite good, with standout solo performances from Jenny Ohrstrom and Babatunde Akinboboye.

During a post concert conversation, conductor David Aks acknowledged cuts in the score, thereby reducing the running time to approximately two and one-half hours. In addition, the two choral moments in the original score were omitted.

As members of this near-capacity audience, we thoroughly enjoyed this production and would be part of a studio audience for this “game show” anytime!

Nordhoff Hall’s Campus Theatre

Oct. 28-29-30, Nov. 4-5-6, 2011

Curtain time 7:30 pm, except Sundays at 2 pm

DAVE WYNE and DONNA BRODERICK

Together approximately 19 years, double bassist Dave Wyne and contralto Donna Broderick have devoted much of their time to exploring music in all of its forms. They have enjoyed live performances including those given at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Germany, the Metropolitan Opera, Avery Fischer and Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Lyric Opera in Chicago, Illinois, along with concerts held at countless other venues.

In 1998, they founded the Borders Classical Music Society, the only one of its kind in the 300-store system. Notable guest speakers featured at Society monthly meetings included Kennedy Center Honoree Marilyn Horne, Maestro Boris Brott and Ib Melchoir, among many others.

Dave Wyne is an alumnus of California State University at Northridge, while Donna Broderick graduated from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois and later continued her education at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle Campus. While playing,
Dave toured with orchestras to China, Great Britain and Central America. He has also performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Ambassador Auditorium. Contralto Donna Broderick has repeatedly performed in recital and been entrusted with the onstage premieres of original compositions written for her voice. However, whenever this couple is questioned about their Music education, they both agree that it will never end.