Don Giovanni at the pictures

[gradus]

We went to the ROH at our local cinema and saw a truly wonderful Don G. Great singing from a cast unknown to me - I am not up to speed with singers - and super orchestral playing. An outstandingly good entertainment enjoyed by 11 of us in an auditorium that could take 200-300. It's a piece I've seen several times but I've never heard it better sung.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Just got home from the performance.which I agree was a good one with an outstanding Erwin Schrott again singing the title role in London. But, that said, with excellent contributions from the other soloists.
My one gripe is that, with a plethora of doors and openings on the multi sided set, they weren't able to engineer an attempt at actually taking the Don down to hell.

For Ermonela Jaho's performances (in particular) - to be clear not performing in Don G- I enjoy cinema streamings after a live performance and gain as much enjoyment from them, if in only a slightly different experience - usually.

[Keraulophone]

My one gripe is that, with a plethora of doors and openings on the multi sided set, they weren't able to engineer an attempt at actually taking the Don down to hell.

I was a bit disappointed too, but a bit of googling after the show led me to understand that the idea was to leave the Don alone in his anguish: hell is in his head, in his own thoughts. Erwin Schrott, who had a terrific night, remarked that the last time he played Don Giovanni at Covent Garden, in Francesca Zambello's production, the Don met his doom in a furnace of flames so fierce that the heat could be felt from the Amphitheatre. "You have no idea how hot that was!”- ES.

Swedish soprano Malin Byström was a superb Donna Anna... can't think why I haven't heard her before. I took my head cathedral chorister daughter, currently studying A-level music, who was suitably impressed by the ladies and indeed the whole production.

O dear, what have I been missing...? Ms Byström in 'Beim Schlafengehen' - https://youtu.be/7TflawyycrA

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes it was an outstanding cast with the Leporello Roberto Tagliavini almost out-singing the quite magnificent Erwin Schrott - the latter also providing an excellent and informative interval feature . I did think the Donna Elvira has a few ‘difficult’ moments though. It was also rather well conducted even though ( I suspect because the cast were many metres above the conductors eye or stick waggling line ) the singers did tend to stray from the beat . ‘‘Twas ever thus....

[Cockney Sparrow]

Yes it was an outstanding cast with the Leporello Roberto Tagliavini almost out-singing the quite magnificent Erwin Schrott - the latter also providing an excellent and informative interval feature . I did think the Donna Elvira has a few ‘difficult’ moments though. It was also rather well conducted even though ( I suspect because the cast were many metres above the conductors eye or stick waggling line ) the singers did tend to stray from the beat . ‘‘Twas ever thus....

I agree. The principals were all a strong cast and Tagliavini surely deserves a namecheck. The Donna Elvira is a replacement - announced 11 Sept, so I'm grateful it was only a few uneasy moments. The announcement by email :

due to personal reasons, British mezzo-soprano Christine Rice has withdrawn from singing the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. The role will now be sung by Greek soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu, making her Royal Opera debut.

Whilst I'm here - other members of the cast :
Donna Anna - Malin Byström
Don Ottavio - Emanuele D'Aguanno
Donna Elvira - Myrtò Papatanasiu
Zerlina - Louise Alder
Masetto - Leon Košavić
Conductor - Hartmut Haenchen

[underthecountertenor]

I agree. The principals were all a strong cast and Tagliavini surely deserves a namecheck. The Donna Elvira is a replacement - announced 11 Sept, so I'm grateful it was only a few uneasy moments. The announcement by email :

due to personal reasons, British mezzo-soprano Christine Rice has withdrawn from singing the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. The role will now be sung by Greek soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu, making her Royal Opera debut.

Whilst I'm here - other members of the cast :
Donna Anna - Malin Byström
Don Ottavio - Emanuele D'Aguanno
Donna Elvira - Myrtò Papatanasiu
Zerlina - Louise Alder
Masetto - Leon Košavić
Conductor - Hartmut Haenchen

Interesting. I overheard a conversation a few weeks ago between two singers, one of whom said 'Christine's starting rehearsals on Don Giovanni today. She HATES the production.'

I very much like it, incidentally, and am kicking myself for having missed what appears to have been a high quality outing this time round.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Wish I’d gone to a live perf as ,for one thing, it would have been less ear shatteringly -loud and not marred by compression and peak distortion.....

[Darkbloom]

I was a bit disappointed too, but a bit of googling after the show led me to understand that the idea was to leave the Don alone in his anguish: hell is in his head, in his own thoughts. Erwin Schrott, who had a terrific night, remarked that the last time he played Don Giovanni at Covent Garden, in Francesca Zambello's production, the Don met his doom in a furnace of flames so fierce that the heat could be felt from the Amphitheatre. "You have no idea how hot that was!”- ES.

Swedish soprano Malin Byström was a superb Donna Anna... can't think why I haven't heard her before. I took my head cathedral chorister daughter, currently studying A-level music, who was suitably impressed by the ladies and indeed the whole production.

O dear, what have I been missing...? Ms Byström in 'Beim Schlafengehen' - https://youtu.be/7TflawyycrA

I remember the heat in that production very well, it was incredible. I can't imagine how hot it must have been for those in the front stalls.

[Orphical]

Just got home from the performance.which I agree was a good one with an outstanding Erwin Schrott again singing the title role in London. But, that said, with excellent contributions from the other soloists.
My one gripe is that, with a plethora of doors and openings on the multi sided set, they weren't able to engineer an attempt at actually taking the Don down to hell.

For Ermonela Jaho's performances (in particular) - to be clear not performing in Don G- I enjoy cinema streamings after a live performance and gain as much enjoyment from them, if in only a slightly different experience - usually.

Excellent production which was much better than some reviewers gave credit. In particular the acting of the cast was outstanding allowing a much broader interpretation about what Don Giovanni is about. A thrilling and thought provoking experience.