Annapolis Opera's Don Giovanni: Small Scale, Giant Impression

Because the World Sequence completed the day earlier than I attended Annapolis Opera’s Don Giovanni, I’ll say upfront that this small opera firm received 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 earth.  It’s giant in lots of regards – when it comes to the variety of principal soloists, orchestra dimension, and units for frequent scene modifications; it’s a mainstay of enormous 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.  Actually, I contend that AO’s smaller scale, well-crafted staging saved a concentrate on the story’s messages that may be obscured by elaborate units and staging, a staging that may seduce us the best way that the character Don Giovanni would.  Large has its benefits, however huge is just not 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 might need been extra, however Da Ponte misplaced his place and wage at courtroom 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 make the most of men and women; Figaro facilities on a servant who outwits his ruler, and Così shows younger girls who change companions somewhat simply.  Giovanni is predicated on the Spanish legendary, fictional character, the rich Don Juan, whose calling in life was to romance and seduce girls 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 shield others from him.  On the identical time, Giovanni continues his pursuit of 1 girl after one other with assistance from his servant and enabler for rent, Leporello.  He makes an attempt to seduce younger Zerlina at her wedding ceremony social gathering, drawing the ire of her new husband Masetto.  Lastly, the spirit of the lifeless father, the Commendatore, seems to supply him a final likelihood at redemption.  Don Giovanni is unrepentant and meets his destiny.

Now, let’s discuss concerning the enjoyable stuff.  Mozart’s exquisitely stunning music in Don Giovanni is stuffed with melodies which might be chart toppers amongst opera’s best hits.  His music continually displays and helps the actions and feelings displayed on stage.  Annapolis Opera’s Creative Director and Conductor Craig Kier led the 24-piece Annapolis Symphony in tremendous trend when it comes to tempo, emphasis, and timing with the singers.  I significantly appreciated his choice 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 enjoying of the music from Don Giovanni can be a superb night’s leisure.  The Annapolis Opera Refrain, beneath the route of Refrain Grasp Joann Kulesza, added extra delight. 

The subsequent pleasing side of this efficiency was the proficient forged of eight soloists.  One of the crucial fulfilling and notable components 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 displaying off.  This glorious 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 12 months 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 appropriately described as stentorian; he can carry 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 concerning the Don’s greater than two thousand different lovers and was off-putting together with his ‘if the value is correct, I’ll look the opposite manner’ perspective.  On this manufacturing, the ultimate scene of the unique efficiency was deleted, as is usually performed, a scene the place a number of of the characters collect briefly to moralize that Giovanni received what was coming to him.  Personally, I like this transformation; 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 demise, 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 could be mild for this position; nevertheless, her attractive singing in Act 2 of “Non mi dir, bell’idol mio”, the place she pleads for understanding from her fiancé Don Octavio, received 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 would possibly count on 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 presents 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 awesome 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 restricted 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 social gathering scene and an efficient use of lighting, particularly within the ultimate scene.  The 18th-century costumes had been spectacular, however I believed we would have liked to grade the units on a curve for the reason that stage at Maryland Corridor is small, and AO probably doesn’t have a big finances for staging.  Director Stephanie Havey did a very good job of shifting the characters about as wanted, and there have been loads of scene modifications. The swordplay, with added gunshots, labored properly sufficient.  Nonetheless, about midway by means 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 movement of the story on this staging that emphasised the storytelling and never particular results or peripheral points.  The set for the final scene was hanging and successfully designed with the statue that speaks confronting Don Giovanni. Effectively performed to Director Havey, Lighting Designer Christopher Brusberg, Scenic Designer Steven C. Kemp, Wardrobe Supervisor Sharlene Clinton, Wig/Make-up Designer Priscilla Bruce, and Combat 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 at present’s motion pictures and TV exhibits.”  Effectively, #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 enchantment, which makes us susceptible.  In her insightful program observe, Director Harvey discusses Giovanni’s capability to “lull his victims into a way of security so 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.  Via diversion and chaos, he slips by means of the fingers of his enemies.”  She discusses how three sturdy girls 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 can we all.

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

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 discuss was given an hour previous to the efficiency.

Parking at Maryland Corridor is free and plentiful however arrive early.  Parking is just not ordered which may make arriving near parking time just a little nervousness producing find the empty spots.