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Thereafter, Mozart and a first-rate cast took over. There were no stars: Così is strictly an ensemble opera. But all hands —Eleanor Steber, Blanche Thebom, Patrice Munsel, Frank Guarrera, Richard Tucker, John Brownlee—somehow seemed to sing and look better than ever. They sang in understandable English, and carried themselves with the flawlessly sophisticated artificiality which Così, and Director Lunt, demanded.
Light, gay and elegant for its full three hours, it was the best production the Met has put on in a decade. Così has usually been more of a festival favorite than a standard repertory piece. In making a smashing new hit for itself, the Met has also clearly found a new repertory regular —to be played right along with Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, as it deserves to be.
*The heroine of a 1940 popular song. Excerpt: Rosita gives you Lesson One Chiquita gives you Lesson Two Madame's there to supervise Every step and exercise . . .