Cossi is unfortunately my favorite Mozart opera. The tenor duets especially are gorgeous and some of the arias - oh, my! Richard Croft's Un'aura amorosa from the 1990's Met broadcast is spine tingling.
But I totally agree about the misogynist plot - not to mention silly. I believe the only sillier plot in all of popular opera is that of the Perl Fishers, another compelling beautiful work but with a libretto in a language I unfortunately do understand.
I was a lot happier with Cossi before I read the libretto but at least can excuse it on the grounds that it all happened a long time ago when no one knew any better. Unlike the sexism of much of today's television, internet and print media.
But I totally agree about the misogynist plot - not to mention silly. I believe the only sillier plot in all of popular opera is that of the Perl Fishers, another compelling beautiful work but with a libretto in a language I unfortunately do understand.
I was a lot happier with Cossi before I read the libretto but at least can excuse it on the grounds that it all happened a long time ago when no one knew any better. Unlike the sexism of much of today's television, internet and print media.