Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden, Germany, May 17, 2013

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden, Germany
May 17, 2013

DON GIOVANNI
Dramma giocoso in two acts
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte

Thomas Hengelbrock, Musical Direction
Philipp Himmelmann, Staging
Florence von Gerkan, Costumes
Johannes Leiacker, Stage Design

Balthasar-Neumann-Choir
Balthasar-Neumann-Orchestra
Jory Vinikour Piano

Anna Netrebko, Donna Anna
Erwin Schrott, Don Giovanni
Luca Pisaroni, Leporello
Malena Ernman, Donna Elvira
Charles Castronovo, Don Ottavio
Katija Dragojevic, Zerlina
Jonathan Lemalu, Masetto
Mario Luperi, Komtur

REVIEW
By Herbert

Yesterday I attended the opening night of the new DON GIOVANNI production at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden. The main roles were excellent - Erwin Schrott / Don Giovanni, Luca Pisaroni / Leporello, Anna Netrebko / Donna Anna - and among the other roles mezzo soprano Katija Dragojevic as Zerlina was lovely. Erwin acted as a self-confident, devillish and charming macho, and his singing was great. He and Luca were a funny and perfect team on stage. Right at the beginning there was quite a sexy scene between Erwin and (Donna) Anna. And Anna's big aria in the second act ("Non mi dir, bell'idol mio") was outstanding and got lots of bravos.

The production itself is good in the first act and very creative in the second, especially towards the end when Don Giovanni and Leporello meet the Commendatore in the graveyard. By a very effective trick - large black curtains falling down from above and covering all three walls - the stage turns dark black within seconds. When Erwin sings his canzonetta "Deh, vieni alla finestra" a long white veil hangs down from above and a very attractive blond girl is wrapped in it and does some artistic kind of "pole dance".

The setting does not change a lot during the show. The stage is surrounded by three pale walls covered with the stars and planets of the solar system. On stage, there is a leafless tree on the left, and some chairs on the left. In the second act the graveyard is marked by some tombstones and stone figures. From time to time the stage is covered by a black wall, again showing the picture of the solar system, and it can be opened in different ways by doors and windows. By the way, the production team had to endure some boos at curtain calls, but also many bravos could be heard.

After the show the singers and artists entered the foyer of the Festspielhaus and had a party there, and the audience were invited to join them, so there was a big crowd. I saw all the singers apart from Anna. She was there in the beginning, but either she left early or she was somewhere in the crowd. Anyway, it was a successful opening night, and the next three performances are already sold out. I was told that probably this production will be recorded on DVD, but it is not sure yet.

PHOTOS

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Luca Pisaroni. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott, Luca Pisaroni. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Luca Pisaroni, Erwin Schrott. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Charles Castronovo. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert

Luca Pisaroni. Don Giovanni, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 17. May 2013. Photo: Herbert