Four Great Mozart Operas: Four Roundtable Talks

In an illuminating and entertaining series for opera buffs and novices alike, we will look at Mozart’s three collaborations with Lorenzo da Ponte -- The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), and Così fan Tutte (1790) -- plus The Magic Flute (1791). These operas will be presented in chronological order, showing the composer’s development, and illustrated with DVDs and audio recordings. Various classic and recent interpretations of these operas, including Ms. Crusco’s updatings for Underworld Productions, will be examined and discussed. We will discuss the elements that go into a successful directorial interpretation – a particularly timely topic in light of the recent booing of Luc Bondy’s Tosca at the Met.