On Thursday alongside my fellow 4th year undergraduate students we performed in a scene from “Cosi fan Tutte”. It was the finale from Act 1 and I performed the part of Fiordiligi with Inkeri Kallio as Doribella. The other performers were :
Don Alfonso – Jack Sandison
Ferrando – Robert Forrest
Guglielmo – Timothy Edmundson
Despina – Xinhui Lai
In the opera Don Alfonso makes bet with two younger men, Ferrando and Guglielmo that all women are fickle and are easily tempted. As the two men believe their fiancés, Fiordiligi and Doribella, are loyal and faithful they see this as an easy bet to win and decide to play along. Pretending to have been called up to go to war the two men agree to return in disguise and attempt to tempt the others fiancé. Will the deception work? Will the two sisters succumb to the advances of their new suitors?
In the scene that we performed Despina the maid had been persuaded by Don Alfonso to help him win his bet. She works with the two men who are now disguised as two Albanians to tempt the two sisters to stray. As part of the deception the two men threaten to poison themselves if Fiordiligi and Doribella do not accept their amorous advances. After refusing their efforts Ferrando and Guglielmo pretend to take the poison and Despina (now disguised as a doctor) saves them from dying.
Pretending to be under the effects of the poison the two men demand a kiss form the sisters who adamantly refuse. Fearing the bet will be lost both Don Alfonso and the disguised Despina encourage the two sisters to agree to the amorous demands as the Act draws to a close.
I had a great time with everyone 🙂
Then after school I packed up for the weekend as we had to travel to Reading in Berkshire for a concert which was on Friday, 18th March.
George Todica was both accompanying me in the concert and also playing three piano pieces by Franz Liszt, Maurice Ravel and George Enescu. We arrived in the afternoon and after being shown the recital room we warmed up before getting changed for the performance. During the afternoon we had a look around the beautiful arts centre which was buzzing with life and a fantastic credit to the community.
During our performance we were made to feel so welcome by the enthusiastic audience and the evening just flew by. We met so many lovely people and enjoyed chatting with them after the concert about the music that we performed. I would like to say a special thank you to Penny and Brian for their hospitality.
