Cast:
Don Giovanni Erwin Schrott
Leporello Alex Esposito
Donna Anna Carmela Remigo
Don Ottavio Pavol Breslik
Donna Elvira Ruxandra Donose
Zerlina Kate Lindsey
Mesetto Matthew Rose
Commendatore Reinhard Hagen
Last night, on visiting The Royal Opera House I achieved three goals I had been aiming for
1. To see Mozart's Don Giovanni performed live for first time
2. To see baritone/barihunk Erwin Schrott perform live for first time
3. To see Kate Lindsey perform live for first time
Having now achieved all these things in one performance I am well and truly stoked! Before I go any further I must just state that my seat at The Royal Opera House was the cheapest I had thus far managed to obtain - in the Upper Slips area, seat DD19 set me back just £13! OK the view was restricted, the seat a bum-numbing bench seat but I have to say my enjoyment of the evening was in no way curtailed by these factors, to sit there and enjoy either just the music of the orchestra and singing of the performers was more than worth it, but I managed to get quite a decent view of much of the proceedings into the bargain - note I had seen this production on TV before with a different cast so did have an idea of what was going on .... most of the time). The Royal Opera House have been staging a trio of Mozart Da Pointe opera and there was another in this series I very much wanted to see also, Le Nozze di Figaro, no way could I have splurged out on decent seat even in the Amphitheatre for both so decided it was The Slips or nothing for me to be the greedy person I am and get to enjoy both.
Don Giovanni, one of the most famous opera out there I just had to see it!
If you want to know more about the opera itself - here's The Royal Opera House guide to Don Giovanni http://www.roh.org.uk/discover/opera/dongiovanni/discoverdon.aspx
I have wanted to see Erwin Schrott live since seeing him perform this little number - Leporello's catalague aria from Don Giovanni - for Placido Domingo at the great man's 70th birthday concert
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| Don Giovanni/Erwin Schrott and Donna Elvira/Ruxandra Dunose |
such an expressive performance, I had never heard of Erwin up to then, but I was well and truly hooked and wanting more, and with his performance as Don Giovanni last night, wow, I can't believe how much more I got!!!! He was an incredible Don, full of character but with an incredible smooth baritone voice that easily reached me way up in the rafters .... and some, his just voice seemed to reach out and caress the whole theatre. It was beautiful, I so enjoyed his singing.
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| Donna Anna/Carmela Remigio and Don Ottavio Pavol Breslik |
Back to the performances soon but now Kate, Kate Lindsey that is. I had seen her perform as Niklaus/The Muse in The Met's production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann and her performance in that just stole the show, for me anyway (it's a fabulous production all-round if you haven't seen it-one of my faves) if you have not seen it yet I highly recommend it (psssst, Mrs Schrott is in it too, lol). Kate was a lovely Zerlina, beautiful singing from her too, with lovely duets with Erwin Schrott and Matthew Rose. I really hope to see her more at The Royal Opera House - I can already see her as a wonderful future Octavian, but maybe it is wrong of me to pin another trouser role on such an undoubtedly beautiful young lady.
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| Zerlina/Kate Lindsey and Masetto/Matthew Rose |
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| Leporello-Alex Esposito |
OK, so I did pretty much knew I was going to get quality from Erwin Schrott and Kate Lindsey, but confess I had not heard anything of the rest of the cast so was delighted to find that to a man/woman they all put in outstanding vocal performances, three of which I feel I have to give extra special mentions as they, to me, seemed stunning. Donna Anna/Carmela Remigio, Don Ottavio/Pavol Breslik and Donna Elvira/Ruxandra Donose, their obvious strong vocal talents left me definitely wanting more from all of them, tenor Pavol Breslik in particular, wow, he was just fantastic, such a tender and sensitive portrayal, and for the sextet in the end scene with Donna Anna/Don Ottavio/Donna Elvira/Zerlina/Masseto/Leporello I found myself almost trying to hang over the wooden ledge in front of me to try see everyone on stage creating those beautiful beautiful sounds. What a great singing cast, I could have quite happily sat with no view at all and still come away with that happy blissful feeling I left the Opera House with, despite the numb feeling even in my well-upholstered rear. It was soooo worth it! Top cast, all of them! YAY!
Would have like to have taken a bit more time here an gone into specific singing parts a bit more but with another opera on the menu tomorrow night afraid there has not been time as yet, but I will try get back and do a bit more if I find I have some free time soon.
I go tomorrow night (2nd March) for my next dose of Mozart/Da Pointe - Le Nozze di Figaro/Ildebrando d'Arcangelo.
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