Product Description
-------------------
"Press Reviews
"Its [Kasper Holten's version of Mozart's Don Giovanni] virtues
start with Es Devlin's handsome set — a slowly revolving cube
depicting the interior and exterior of a many-chambered
ation-style mansion — and Anja Vang Kragh's imaginative
costuming, which locates the period around 1840. " (The Daily
Telegraph ★★★★)
"With a cast that could not be bettered today allied to an
inful if sometimes idiosyncratic staging, this is a Don
Giovanni that is never boring, often thrilling, and demands to be
seen." (What's on Stage ★★★★)
"And in the Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecien he's [Kasper Holten]
found the man for the job: when this Don appears on Donna Anna's
balcony, coolly adjusting his dress, he exudes such debonair
attraction that the evident eagerness of Malin Bystrom's Donna
Anna is entirely believable ... the drama gains steadily in force
thanks to the beauty of the singing, the charisma of Alex
Esposito's winningly clown-like Leporello, and the ingenious
suggestiveness of Luke Halls’ video superimpositions on Es
Devlin's set. " (The Independent)
"Kwiecien's eloquently sung Giovanni heads a strong cast.
Particularly impressive is Malin Byström's Donna Anna, whose
moving Non mi dir is addressed not to Don Ottavio but first to
her dead her (via his bust) and then to Giovanni himself.
Véronique Gens offers a sympathetic Donna Elvira, impassioned
rather than hysterical in her inability to give up on Giovanni.
Even in Leporello's Catalogue Aria she embraces Giovanni, willing
it not to be true. Alex Esposito's resourceful Leporello also
seems to be smitten by Giovanni, as is Elizabeth Watts's lively,
engaging Zerlina. Nicola Luisotti draws sensuous playing from the
ROH orchestra ..." (The Evening Standard ★★★★)
"The Danish director's [Kasper Holten] new staging of what is
regularly regarded as one of the trickiest of all repertory
pieces to realise effectively is a genuine success. Visually this
is a fascinating evening. Designer Es Devlin has come up with an
endlessly adaptable structure of rooms, staircases and facades
that swivels around seamlessly, conjuring an infinity of
Escher-like spaces for the action to evolve in. Holten is lucky
with his cast, led by Mariusz Kwiecien's suave and sophisticated
Giovanni, Malin Bystrom's grand-scaled Donna Anna and Alex
Esposito's all-too-human Leporello. Also extremely worthwhile are
Elizabeth Watt's perky Zerlina, Dawid Kimberg's easily
manipulated Masetto and Antonio Poli's sweet-toned Ottavio, while
Alexander Tsymbalyuk makes a sonorous Commendatore. Conductor
Nicola Luisotti is a flexible exponent of the score, ensuring
that musical standards match the dramatic ones. " (The Stage)
Cast
Mariusz Kwiecien (Don Giovanni)
Alex Esposito (Leporello)
Malin Byström (Donna Anna)
Véronique Gens (Donna Elvira)
Antonio Poli (Don Ottavio)
Elizabeth Watts (Zerlina)
Dawid Kimberg (Masetto)
Alexander Tsymbalyuk (Commendatore)
Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House; Nicola Luisotti
Production
Company: The Royal Opera
Stage Director: Kasper Holten
Television Director: Jonathan Haswell
Choreographer: Signe Fabricius
Disc Information
Catalogue Number: OA1145D
Date of Performance: 2014
Running Time: 187 minutes
Sound: LPCM & DTS Master Audio 5.1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP, KO
Label: Opus Arte"
Review
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Holten directs meticulously: the staging has been rehearsed with
exceptional thoughtfulness and attention to detail. --The Daily
Telegraph
With a cast that could not be bettered today allied to an
inful if sometimes idiosyncratic staging, this is a Don
Giovanni that is never boring, often thrilling, and demands to be
seen. --Seen and Heard International