dongiovanni

Issue #44

Last Update March 2, 2006

Summer Festivals Don Giovanni by David Katz The Chautauqua Institution runs an annual cultural festival that goes for nine weeks, from late June through late August. Included in the Institution's programs are symphonic concerts, topical lectures, ballet, theater and religious programs. Not least of the Chautauqua offerings is opera, performed by the resident Chautauqua Opera Company, which, over the course of the summer presents operettas, dramatic operas, comic operas and opera recitals, all except the recitals fully staged with scenery and orchestra.

On August 1, The Chautauqua Opera Company gave Don Giovanni a superb performance. Mozart wrote his symphonies, chamber music and choral works as a function of the patronage he received, but. operas he wrote for cash, and very successful they were, too. Don Giovanni remains one of his most popular, although The Magic Flute exceeds it as a work of art. Don Giovanni was originally commissioned by the Prague Municipal Opera and had its first performance in October 1787. The Chautauqua Opera Company sang in English, using Andrew Porter's translation of Lorenzo Da Ponte's original Italian libretto.

Brian Davis ably portrayed Don Giovanni, an immoral nobleman who seduces (or sometimes rapes) young women with complete lack of conscience and utter disregard for havoc he wreaks on his victims. He sang with complete confidence, and conveyed, in appearance and manner, a handsome but sleazy and arrogant nobleman who has never had to suffer the consequences of his actions.

Joshua Winograd as Leporello, Don Giovanni's servant, was outstanding. His rich basso voice was equally thrilling at full volume and when softly regretting his master's behavior. Erik Kroncke, a Chautauqua Opera Apprentice Artist, also shone as Masetto, the peasant whose fiancee Zerlina is an object of Don Giovanni's lust.

Philip Cokorinos, splendid as the Commendatore, Donna Anna's father, killed by Don Giovanni while defending her honor, and who drags Don Giovanni to hell in what may be the most famous and dramatic of all opera scenes, and Mark A. Thomsen, pleasant in the role of Don Ottavio, Donna Anna's fiancé, round out the male cast.

Lea Woods Friedman as Zerlina the peasant girl, another Chautauqua Opera Apprentice Artist, has a lovely voice and the charming good looks so helpful in the ingenue role. Theresa Hamm-Smith as Donna Anna sang and acted well.

The major female role, Donna Elvira, was sung by Sheryl Woods. Seduced and abandoned by Don Giovanni, she disrupts his seductions all through the opera, warning the women and alerting the men to the danger posed by the nobleman. Her acting was fine and angry, and appropriately wistful and uncertain when Don Giovanni tried to make up with her. Her singing voice is strong, as needed in such a role. Only her diction could be faulted; at times it appeared as if she had a speech impediment that made the lyrics hard to understand.

This is the 74^th opera season for the company, and the ninth season for Jay Lessenger as Artistic/General Director. Other productions this season include La Boheme, Romeo and Juliet and H.M.S. Pinafore.