Florentine's 'Cosi fan tutte: Remix' is Mozart with a mirror ball

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall during the early creative meetings for the Florentine Opera production of “Cosi fan tutte: Remix.” The “What if we…” and “We could…” conversations simply had to be fascinating.

The production, seen in Wednesday dress rehearsal (it opens Friday evening at the Marcus Performing Arts Center) is not merely a familiar opera set in modern times. It is actually a complete rethinking and retooling of the opera.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s lovely music and Lorenzo da Ponte’s comedic libretto are at the heart of the production, but more in spirit than in presentation. The book and lyrics for the “Remix” were written by Kelley Rourke, with musical arrangements by Nicolas Lell Benvanides.

Performed in English, the opera features a group of soon-to-graduate college students in 1984, revisiting at their 20-year reunion.

If you know “Cosi,” it will take a little time to settle into the story as something new, rather than as a retelling of the story you already know. But it’s worth the effort.

Directed by Jill Anna Ponasik, the production leans heavily on our collective nostalgia for times gone by, and particularly for our college days, and the freedom and friends of that era in our lives.

Some of that nostalgia is triggered by the story line, and some by the iconic hair and clothing, as well the equally iconic student commons in which it is set. Some of it is also nostalgia for the traditional opera, as you hear an ensemble of two keyboards, a clarinet, a trumpet, a guitar and a double bass accompany the show.

Once you wrap your mind around the fact that this is not so much “Cosi,” as it is Mozart with a mirror ball, it’s good fun, and a rather nostalgia- and thought-provoking experience as well.

The production is solidly sung by a strong ensemble cast of: Patrick Bessenbacher as Fernando, Zachary Crowle as Guglielmo, David Guzman as Don Alfonzo, Nicole Heinen as Despina, Laura McCauley as Fiordiligi and Tzytle Steinman as Dorabella.

The cast was particularly impressive in their handling of many ensemble numbers Mozart tucked into the opera, delivering nicely knit renditions that were musically interesting and balanced.

Conductor Laurann Gilley led the orchestra from a keyboard. Playing from a corner of the stage, the orchestra included keyboardist Edward Forstman, clarinetist Emily Hancock, trumpeter Quincy Erickson, guitarist Adler Scheidt and double bassist Michael Martin.

If you go

Florentine Opera will perform "Cosi fa tutte: Remix” March 17-26 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center's Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, visit www.florentineopera.org, or call (414) 273-7206.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Florentine's 'Cosi fan tutte: Remix' is Mozart with a mirror ball