Fidelio soars in Gitmo setting

Melbourne Opera has built up a stable of talented, entertaining singers, so what better opera than Cosi Fan Tutte, with no less than six major roles, to show off the skills of their popular artists.

Radically changing the time and place setting of operas can be risky, but potentially rewarding if the update illuminates the text and enhances the variety for audiences who are well accustomed to traditional stagings. Happily, the choice of 1960s Melbourne is an excellent one, giving this production an extra pep and delight beyond the innate charm of the music.