17th-century Venice – a city of darkness and shadows, where danger lurks in every alleyway and corruption is rife. In the centre of it all, a man with the power to seduce women at will: Don Giovanni. Read more …
Arrogant, audacious, living life from one opportunity to the next, he sets his sights on his next unsuspecting conquest. When her father intervenes, Don Giovanni flees with blood on his hands. Chased by shadows and moving inexorably towards a chilling confrontation, have his demons finally caught up with him?
Dark, vivid and bursting with life, Don Giovanni is full-blooded opera at its best, combining exquisite music, powerful orchestration, intense drama and lightly crafted comedy.
The creative team behind 2012’s The Magic Flute reunites to bring its hallmark theatricality to Mozart’s extraordinary score and Lorenzo Da Ponte’s lyrics. Jacques Imbrailo, hailed by The Times as ‘the hottest young baritone on the block’ is Don Giovanni, performing alongside internationally acclaimed singers Peter Kalman, Susan Gritton and beloved Scottish soprano Lisa Milne.
Richly sumptuous and vividly told, Thomas Allen’s rather tame new Don Giovanni for Scottish Opera seems to want to have it both ways, and feels uneasily balanced between surface sparkle and its dark heart of sexual obsession as a result.
This production feels fresh and nimble and with the playfulness we’ve come to expect from Thomas Allen’s work with the company.
Darkly emotional, Scottish Opera’s new co-production with Boston Lyric Opera is a triumphant mix of shimmering performances, strong direction from Thomas Allen and detailed but functional design from Simon Higlett.
Interview: Anna Devin
Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Tuesday October 15, 2013, until Saturday October 26, 2013. More info: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalglasgow/
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen from Thursday October 31, 2013, until Saturday November 2, 2013. More info: www.hmtaberdeen.com
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Thursday November 7, 2013, until Saturday November 9, 2013. More info: www.eden-court.co.uk
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Thursday November 14, 2013, until Saturday November 23, 2013. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival
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