2025- Così Fan Tutte Tour

Review of Cosi Fan Tutte at Winsley Village Hall

Around 50 villagers and other local opera aficionados were wowed by a bravura performance of Cosi fan Tutte by White Horse Opera at the village hall on Saturday, 7th June. 

The opera was written by Mozart in 1789/90 and is a light-hearted romp based on mistaken identity in the vein of a more modern pantomime.  In brief, two young men who are engaged to twin sisters are convinced by a philosopher of more mature years of the fickleness of women and take a bet with him that the women will not desert them should they disappear.  The men pretend to be called away for military service but then return in disguise (resembling members of the pop group Sweet from the ‘70’s!) and eventually seduce the women into swapping partners and marrying the other man.  Finally, the disguises are revealed, and everyone lives happily ever after.

The cast of six sang and acted with consummate skill, but I would particularly mention the two female sopranos, Barbara Gompels and Paula Boyagis for not missing a single note, and the pianist, Tony James, for his mastery of the keyboard throughout.

White Horse Opera are based in Devizes and regularly perform operas around Wiltshire and beyond.

Andrew Gaulter