Cosi Fan Tutte Regent Theatre, Hanley

UNDERNEATH a banal plot lurks a more sinister and subversive one.

Fortunately for us, da Ponte's libretto, entitled School for lovers, was rejected by Salieri as being "unworthy of musical invention" and passed on to Mozart.

In a Europe embroiled in political and social turmoil in 1790 – when many heads of state and the aristocracy must have been more than a little concerned about events in France – da Ponte and Mozart produced a most wonderful work of art which endorsed the social upheavals that were taking place. Glyndebourne on Tour began their week at the Regent Theatre in Hanley with this ostensibly innocent frippery.

Mozart's sublime score matches the serious, intricate and noble vicissitudes of da Ponte's work.

Vicki Mortimer's simple and elegant set allowed the music and action to flow without distraction and Nicholas Hytner's original direction, revived by Ashley Dean, was, for the most part, appropriate and complementary to the drama.

The cast of six, of which two were last-minute replacements, was mainly well chosen.

Natasha Jouhl (Fiordiligi), a replacement for Gillian Ramm, apart from a few problems of memory and intonation, sang this demanding role with insight and incisive perception.

Lucia Cirillo, as his sister Dorabella, displayed a mezzo-soprano voice of the finest quality.

Of the two lovers, Jacques Imbrailo (Guglielmo) was outstanding both as singer and actor.

Andrew Tortise (Ferrando) seemed a little ill at ease, which was reflected in his singing. Nevertheless, his Act One aria provided glimpses of the mature artist.

The two underling manipulators of the drama, Riccardo Novaro (Don Alfonso) and Jacquelyn Parker (Despina), who replaced Simona Mihai, played their parts with assurance and confidence.

Patrick Lange demonstrated an innate musical affinity with Mozart.

Under his direction, the orchestra played with their usual finesse and excellence. The solo wind playing was notable and the ensemble early in Act Two outstanding.

Glyndebourne perform Verdi's Falstaff on Wednesday and Saturday; Janacek's Jenufa on Thursday and Cosi again on Friday. For tickets and details, call the box office on 0844 8717649.

David Burrowes