Mozart - Don Giovanni / Giorgio Strehler · Riccardo Muti · T. Allen · E. Gruberova

Amazon.com essential video

This is the greatest of all operas. Mozart called it a "dramma giocoso," which might be translated as "serious comedy," and in fact it is tragic and comic at the same time--climaxing with a spectacular final scene in which the libertine hero (hero? let's say "central character") is dragged alive down to hell amid blood-curdling screams. Mozart treated this as a happy ending, and the punishment is richly earned by the rape, murder, and seduction that lead up to it, but at the same time Giovanni has a charm (most clearly displayed in the duet "La ci darem") that makes it easy to believe in his amorous conquests (which are brilliantly detailed in his servant Leporello's "catalogue aria"). Don Giovanni can be interpreted in many ways; the first DVD recording is a solid, middle-of-the-road interpretation, handsomely staged and photographed, generally well conducted and sung (though Thomas Allen has rough spots in his serenade), and acted capably if not brilliantly. It would be a good way to begin acquaintance with this masterpiece. Strikingly different concepts worth knowing are Joseph Losey's psychologically probing and symbol-laden movie version, and the Peter Sellars television production (both available on VHS), which plays out the drama in the wasteland of the modern South Bronx. --Joe McLellan

Description

This acclaimed La Scala performance of "Don Giovanni" instantly took its place among the most important Mozart productions. Thomas Allen, hailed as one of the best British baritones ever, gives an engaging and seductive performance as the famous lover. Under the baton of Riccardo Muti, this La Scala production highlights all of the tragic grandeur of this masterpiece without sacrificing its lighthearted moments. Director Giorgio Strehler's staging has been lauded for its subtle psychological treatment of the characters.

Customer Reviews:

This is not Mozart .......2006-11-23

It seems easy to stage a Mozart's Opera. Well, it is terribly difficult..
The man was subject to a German education by His Father and ArchBishop Coloredo a powerful dictator of a mid size town. Milos Forman got it right in the movie "Amadeus"..

The problem with this Opera is very simple to solve: The men should be Italian(ate) bass-baritones and, ideally the "voices" of Don Giovanni and of Leporello should be almost undistinguishable.

The ladies should be sopranno for Donna Anna, Mezzo-sopranno for D. Elvira and Zerlina can be either but she must absolutely sound fresh and "peppy".

Well, on this version, all the main roles are miscast. The English singers sound artificial, particularly Ann Murray, Gruberova sounds like an old sheep.

Giorgio Strheler should have refused ti direct this "trouppe". As for Muti, he is pardonned. Coming from Philadelfia "under the Huge legs of a senile Eugene Ormandy (I witness it), he had to take it. And musically this is a correct version.

If you want a genuine Don Giovanni, you must close your eyes, turn the video off and listen to Schwarzkopf, Sutherland, Waechter, Capucilli and others under Guilinni. THere is no alternaive...

A dark and often dismal 'Don'.......2006-02-07

Disappointing -- buying the cheapest version is not always wise. The biggest problem is that the darkness and distance of the view serve to destroy all or most dramatic intensity. The single highlight -- for me and seemingly for those present in the audience: Gruberova singing Donna Anna's "Non mi dir." But only a true "collector" would buy a DVD just for that.

Excellent music, mediocre recording.......2003-04-04

Although the drama on stage was disappointing, Muti and the vocalists create terrific music. It is unfortunate that the recording quality is only mediocre. Furthermore, the stage lighting was inappropriately dim for capturing the opera on tape, and most of the scenes are excessively gloomy. All in all, this performance fails to demonstrate the strengths of the DVD format.

Mutti's 'Don Giovanni'.......2002-05-22

Mozart's operas have never been the easiest to set, and this production's director does little to alleviate that stigma. The sets are austere and repetitive, the costume design is good but hackneyed by overuse, and the lighting often obscures the more delicate details of the staging. But, if the backdrop to the music is slightly disappointing, the music itself is anything but. Mutti leads a roaring interpretation that lets down neither his lightning fast tempo nor the jubilent spirit at the heart of Mozart's music.The casting is superb! From Zerlina (Metzner), meek and innocent (even through her final curtain call) to Leoporello (Desderi) whose antics on the stage make us fall in love with his character to Thomas Allen's Don Giovanni who is the perfect blend of regality and wickedness. All around this is the best recording of Don Giovanni available on DVD, and one those eager to aquire Mozart's grand masterpiece in this format first need look in to.

Masetto Is Hot!.......2002-05-09

This is the best performance of Don Giovanni that I have seen yet.Except for a little backround noise, it was really great.I loved Thomas Allen's and Natale De Carolis's singing.The sets were also very nice.I happen to think that Zerlina was a little smarmy, but she sang well.This opera was recorded nicely,and I would reccomend it to anyone.I wish I saw it live!

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