Simon Keenlyside, Royal Opera, Covent Garden

---

Product Description

Don Giovanni is one of the timeless classics of all opera. Mozart's music, and the words of his great collaborator Da Ponte, are brought to life in Francesca Zambello's engrossing production from 2002 with its rich and colourful designs by Maria Bjornson. The music is memorable, dramatic and enjoyable: from the seductive solo voices of the famous 'La ci darem la mano' to the fabulous ensemble as Don Giovanni's infatuated conquests, vengeful victims and their outraged relatives join forces for justice. And retribution does finally come to Don Giovanni, a serial womanizer and a murderer, with the searing flames of Hell ready to engulf him. Simon Keenlyside heads the outstanding cast, conducted by renowned Mozart expert Charles Mackerras.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29553 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-03-30
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Classical, Colour, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, PAL
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: Dutch, English, French, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 202 minutes

Synopsis
This 2008 performance of one of Mozart's best known operas, DON GIOVANNI, stars Simon Keenlyside in the title role. With backing from the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, conducted by renowned Mozart expert Charles Mackerras.

Review
'Given a cast of this quality, outstanding staging opportunities, and a director of Zambello's genius, and Don Giovanni feels as if it is bursting on the world for the first time all over again... Each role has been thought out and sharply realised by director and respective performer, and jointly make a convincing whole.' --Online Review London

---

Customer Reviews

The Royal Oprea doing justice to the 'Opera of all Operas'
I first saw this production of Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House in 2002,
and I have yet to experience anything which comes close to expressing the genius
behind what is probably the greatest all-round creation in the history of opera.
That said, I have never seen a second-rate performance of any opera at Covent Garden,
a situation which, I believe reinforces the reputation of the Royal Opera House as
a venue where {on the whole} a certain standard of excellence can be assured.

All in all, the performance on this DVD captures and sustains all of the opera's
musical perfection and power, cumulating in a last secene which seems to transcend
art and music drama in general, thereby giving the impression that a certain musical
ne plus ultra has indeed been reached.

In addition, this production boasts a fine cast headed by a Simon keenlyside in fine
form as the Don. Keenlyside brings about just the right amount of dark intent to the
role without ever negleting the Don's indifference in regard to his actions and his
nihilistic impulses which are essential in any performance of this 'Opera of all Operas'.

After watching the curtain call at the end of this performance, I became convinced that
some members of the cast were aware that they had just taken part in something special,
and the 2005 Glyndebourne production of 'Gilulio Cesare' came to mind, another almost
faultless interpretation which has since become an operatic classic on DVD.
In terms of pure operatic production, this recording of Don Giovanni, along with the above
mentioned Handel masterpiece represent all what is great and eternal about 18th century
opera, where mortal beings appear to be taken over by the influence of immortal genius,
and, as a result, assist in a kind of life-enhancing force which could well be envisaged
as being a reason for life itself. If in doubt please buy this DVD and become a willing
sacrifice to the divine force and power which is 18th century opera.