I'm just back from an overnight trip to Dallas to take in the last
performance of Dallas Opera's Cosi Fan Tutte, and I'm pleased to
report that our favorite baritone did himself proud. Gunn clearly
was having great fun portraying the swaggering Guglielmo, and his
erotically-charged seduction of Donose's Dorabella was one of the
production's highlights -- the scene produced enough sparks to make
me imagine Gunn in the Don Giovanni "La ci darem la mano" scene, and
to make me wonder when some enterprising American opera company is
going to realize that Don Giovanni could be a great showcase role for
him.

I won't go through a review of the entire performance, but it was
very high-quality, with 6 vocally and dramatically strong soloists.
Particular kudos to tenor Richard Croft for his gorgeous singing as
Ferrando, complete with literally breathtaking demonstrations of his
dynamic control when spinning out piano lines in "Un'aura amorosa",
and to Nicole Heaston for her enormously entertaining Despina,
including the two convincing impersonations of the doctor and the
notary. The only drawback, as usual in Dallas, was the boxy, muffled
acoustics of the Fair Park Music Hall.

Christopher Weimer
Stillwater OK