To listen with open eyes - Currentzis explained very well in the videos that were broadcast to accompany the release of the album: according to him, this opera is a will to confront Mozart's music and text (the second being uninteresting and serving to demonstrate the emptiness of the text relative to the depth of music that the door). -A Certain way- This agrees with the comments that underline the irony of the book - in lost them in this release. Although it is not a specialist, I find this review moved because the difference between orchestra and singers is completely set "scene" in terms of sound, the musical libretto being totally put forward in this release. On this subject we read a number of rubbish, some believing worth noting that the orchestra was mixed too loud or that the publisher has authorized a somewhat hasty mastering (see Comments on Amazon.com and co.uk ). Obviously, this version of Cosi was perfectly sight, reviewed and approved by Currentzis and Sony (and probably a lot of people around them). This version makes very radical choices and chooses to the orchestra in the center of the work - which is not without its problems for the overall reading of the work. Are we to think that the texts are completely secondary in the minds of the authors and do illustrate that the conceit of the characters? (Which he seems to bring back Cosi in traditiion Italian comic operas).
If I had to sum up my opinion on this version, I would say it seems more "Brechtian" the many and varied sounds of the orchestra and the gap between the band and the songs are (in my opinion) for cause a distance between the listener (viewer) and action - for reflection. I'm not saying that this is the will of Currentzis (it is on the contrary totally passionate about opera and totally takes the view Mozart) but it is in my view a reading that eliminates the booklet - that seems to suggest Currentzis.
More concretely first choice I would recommend buying the Figaro Currentzis, more universal access with no exceptions, much more sensual in its approach.
Anyway, Currentzis brings some new blood and debate in a musical universe a little depressed, it can only be welcomed.
