more music

We heard the Indianapolis Opera production of Mozart's Cossi Fan Tutte on Sunday afternoon ("All Women Are Like That").

Thank goodness that Mozart had some appreciation for the female voice. As usual with his operas, the story is silly, although not too far removed from, say, an episode of I Love Lucy. Two couples are madly in love, but a cynical older fellow convinces the men to test the fidelity of the women in an elaborate ruse. Against their better judgment, the women prove fickle. The men sing that all women are like that. But what about the men? They're all pretty cynical.

I think the answer is to never think too hard about Mozart operatic story lines. It is the music, frankly, that gives us moments away from mundane reality. In this piece, we get wonderful ensemble variations and powerful singing.

Seeing opera at a matinee is always a plus. Certainly more civilized than on a Friday night after wrestling with the burden and toils of the week. I like my mind to be alert when I am in the audience and it is easier to do so in daylight hours.