Annapolis Opera's Don Giovanni: Small Scale, Massive Affect

For the reason that World Collection completed the day earlier than I attended Annapolis Opera’s Don Giovanni, I’ll say upfront that this small opera firm gained the sport with a staff effort, displaying excellence throughout.  Don Giovanni, first carried out in 1787, stays one of many ten most frequently carried out operas on the planet.  It’s giant in lots of regards – when it comes to the variety of principal soloists, orchestra measurement, and units for frequent scene adjustments; it’s a mainstay of huge opera homes.  But, the great thing about its music, vocals, and insights into human society and private challenges, additionally result in frequent productions by smaller firms.  It’s excessive leisure that additionally teaches us one thing about ourselves.  In reality, I contend that AO’s smaller scale, well-crafted staging stored a give attention to the story’s messages that may be obscured by elaborate units and staging, a staging which may seduce us the best way that the character Don Giovanni would.  Large has its benefits, however huge shouldn’t be essentially higher, or as reflective of actual life. 

Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte collaborated on three operas, all of that are well-liked classics.  Along with Don Giovanni, there are The Marriage of Figaro (1786) and Così fan tutte (1790).  There may need been extra, however Da Ponte misplaced his place and wage at court docket and left city, and Mozart died in 1791 on the age of 35.  The social commentary of their operas was edgy for the occasions and drew contentious scrutiny by the censors.  Giovanni is a wealthy nobleman who presents himself with misleading attraction to reap the benefits of men and women; Figaro facilities on a servant who outwits his ruler, and Così shows younger ladies who change companions slightly simply.  Giovanni is predicated on the Spanish legendary, fictional character, the rich Don Juan, whose calling in life was to romance and seduce ladies with out regard to propriety or morality.  The disarming, prosperous, amoral aristocrat Don Giovanni sees women and men as being there for his pleasure and manipulation with out regard to their emotions or well-being.  In my youthful days, he would have been referred to as smooth-talking, somebody to control, somebody who makes you retain your hand in your pockets. 

The story begins with him being too forceful within the seduction of Donna Anna after which his killing of her father, who involves her protection.  All through, Donna Elvira, a earlier seductee, tries to name him to account for his actions and defend others from him.  On the identical time, Giovanni continues his pursuit of 1 lady after one other with the help of his servant and enabler for rent, Leporello.  He makes an attempt to seduce younger Zerlina at her marriage ceremony celebration, drawing the ire of her new husband Masetto.  Lastly, the spirit of the useless father, the Commendatore, seems to supply him a final probability at redemption.  Don Giovanni is unrepentant and meets his destiny.

Now, let’s speak in regards to the enjoyable stuff.  Mozart’s exquisitely stunning music in Don Giovanni is stuffed with melodies which can be chart toppers amongst opera’s biggest hits.  His music continually displays and helps the actions and feelings displayed on stage.  Annapolis Opera’s Inventive Director and Conductor Craig Kier led the 24-piece Annapolis Symphony in nice trend when it comes to tempo, emphasis, and timing with the singers.  I tremendously appreciated his resolution to play the marvelous overture with out silent motion occurring on stage, permitting the music to be loved with out distraction.  Simply listening to this Annapolis Symphony’s taking part in of the music from Don Giovanni can be a wonderful night’s leisure.  The Annapolis Opera Refrain, underneath the course of Refrain Grasp Joann Kulesza, added extra delight. 

The subsequent pleasing facet of this efficiency was the gifted forged of eight soloists.  One of the vital pleasing and notable elements of any Mozart opera is the ensemble numbers, starting from duets to the complete forged; for me, he and Rossini stand out on this class.  Generally I really feel that Mozart is simply exhibiting off.  This wonderful forged delivered them properly.  Don Giovanni was performed by baritone Efrain Solis, who has beforehand carried out with AO, in addition to Virginia Opera and Washington Live performance Opera; one reviewer praised his premiere on the Metropolitan Opera this yr as “sensational”.  He has a strong, engaging voice, and sings with obvious ease.  He conveyed each Don Giovanni’s attraction and vileness.  His servant and sidekick, Leporello, sung by bass-baritone Samuel Weiser, whose voice has been accurately described as stentorian; he can convey the growth when wanted, but in addition delivered some imply patter singing on this position.  He displayed a personality that was each ingratiating as he endorsed Donna Elvira in regards to the Don’s greater than two thousand different lovers and was off-putting together with his ‘if the worth is correct, I’ll look the opposite method’ angle.  On this manufacturing, the ultimate scene of the unique efficiency was deleted, as is usually achieved, a scene the place a number of of the characters collect briefly to moralize that Giovanni bought what was coming to him.  Personally, I like this alteration; the purpose had already been clearly made.

A spotlight of Don Giovanni is the arias given by Mozart to a trio of girls that Giovanni beds or makes an attempt to, Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Zerlina.  Donna Anna, who desires to avenge her father’s dying, was performed by Sofia Scattarreggia, an Italian American soprano residing in Spain.  My impression on listening to her within the opening of Act 1 was that, although she sang properly, her voice is likely to be gentle for this position; nonetheless, her beautiful singing in Act 2 of “Non mi dir, bell’idol mio”, the place she pleads for understanding from her fiancé Don Octavio, gained me over fully.  Soprano Johanna Will portrayed Donna Elvira.  She wields her attention-commanding voice with emotion and finesse.  She sang Donna Elvira’s signature aria, “Mi tradì quell’alma ingrata”, in Act 2 when she expresses her conflicted emotions for Giovanni with grace and wonder.  Soprano Sara LeMesh performed the position of Zerlina with the coquettish attraction one may anticipate a younger bride to have. That, mixed with the prettiness of her voice and her dexterity in excessive registers, made her singing of “Vedrai, carino” in Act 2 a particular delight, the place she affords her love as a ache reliever to a battered Masetto.

There are three extra guys to say: Don Octavio, Masetto, and the Commendatore.  Tenor Charles Calotta sang the position of Octavio.  My first thought was that with a golden tenor voice this vivid and highly effective, Mr. Calotta has an excellent profession forward of him.  He displayed convincingly his love and concern for Donna Anna in his stunning and tender rendition of “Dalla sua tempo” in Act 1.  Baritone Brandon Bell sings properly and had the stature to painting Zerlina’s younger, jealous hothead of a husband with a young aspect.  His singing of “Ho capito! Signor, sì” the place he has to capitulate to Giovanni whereas stuffed with jealous anger, had the proper comedian contact.  Benjamin Sieverding was not particularly notable within the opening sequence the place he’s dispatched, however his return as a speaking statue of himself was spectacular.  He commanded the stage in his statue scene together with his presence and singing of his invitation to Don Giovanni to dine with him; it gave one shivers.

Ah sure, the staging.  The set is proscribed for this manufacturing, primarily consisting of wall panels that seem as stone partitions with aspect entrances and exits.  Some further distinguishing options are added to assist convey the setting, such because the celebration scene and an efficient use of lighting, particularly within the ultimate scene.  The 18th-century costumes had been spectacular, however I assumed we wanted to grade the units on a curve because the stage at Maryland Corridor is small, and AO seemingly doesn’t have a big funds for staging.  Director Stephanie Havey did job of transferring the characters about as wanted, and there have been plenty of scene adjustments. The swordplay, with added gunshots, labored properly sufficient.  Nevertheless, about midway by way of Act 1, I noticed that the units and staging had been working.  I used to be getting caught up within the motion and the drama.  I cared about these folks, every with their distinctive challenges.  I believe the important thing ingredient was the sleek circulation of the story on this staging that emphasised the storytelling and never particular results or peripheral points.  The set for the final scene was putting and successfully designed with the statue that speaks confronting Don Giovanni. Properly achieved to Director Havey, Lighting Designer Christopher Brusberg, Scenic Designer Steven C. Kemp, Wardrobe Supervisor Sharlene Clinton, Wig/Make-up Designer Priscilla Bruce, and Struggle Director Casey Kaleba. 

As I mirrored on this opera now, I bear in mind a remark I made in my report on a earlier model I noticed years in the past: “… presenting the Don Juan story within the #MeToo period makes it extraordinarily well timed, as does its first use of the ingredient of horror in opera, so prevalent in right now’s films and TV exhibits.”  Properly, #MeToo has matured, however the points haven’t disappeared, and smooth-talking charlatans with energy over others are nonetheless round.  These characters have their attraction and attraction, which makes us weak.  In her insightful program be aware, Director Harvey discusses Giovanni’s means to “lull his victims into a way of security in order that they willingly give up” and the way by creating chaos “…he attracts wishes and aggression out of these round him and creates confusion that dislocates a social hierarchy.  By way of diversion and chaos, he slips by way of the fingers of his enemies.”  She discusses how three sturdy ladies are compelled to confront their very own problems with autonomy, and the way, in defining moments, every character should resolve the place their allegiance lies, as will we all.

Along with the gorgeous singing and the beautiful music, Annapolis Opera delivers the ethical questions and classes of Don Giovanni clearly, with giant impression.

The Fan Expertise: Performances of Don Giovanni had been scheduled for October 31 and November 2.  The opera was sung in Italian with English supertitles proven on screens adjoining to the stage.  The opera with intermission lasted about 3.5 hours.  A pre-opera speak was given an hour previous to the efficiency.

Parking at Maryland Corridor is free and plentiful however arrive early.  Parking shouldn’t be ordered which might make arriving near parking time a bit of anxiousness producing find the empty spots.