Cosi fan tutte fun at Norwich Theatre Royal

The English Touring Opera arrived in Norwich for three operas in three nights at Norwich Theatre Royal. The first on Monday 25th March 2013 was Mozart's Cosi fan tutte. It was a busy few days for me as I had tickets for all three performances. This comedy about making mistakes in love is one of Mozart's most famous operas.

Così fan tutte is in many ways Mozart’s most perfect opera score, and Da Ponte’s most challenging script. It is a comedy of innocence and experience, funny and unnerving, touching and satirical. The delicate balance between recognising the posturing of the four young lovers and loving them all the same is a challenge to each director and singer.

In one day fiancés are parted, and new fiancés found – or so it seems. Discovering they are not at all the people they thought they were is strange, exciting, and very embarrassing. Paul Higgins' new period production sung in English featured a cast including Laura Mitchell, Paula Sides, Richard Mosley-Evans and Kitty Whately.

A packed Norwich Theatre Royal enjoyed a fun night as the English Touring Opera performed brilliantly and gave us lots of laughs. The combination of the wonderful music and the period setting made this an evening with a great feel good factor. At the end of the opera all four lovers’ certainties have been destroyed. No one quite knows what to feel, except that certainly human nature has been at work.