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The Composer Wolfgang Amadus Mozart was born in Salzburg on the 27th January 1756. A child protegy, he began composing from a very early age. He was at ease writing in every genre of music but it was in opera that Mozart’s chief passion lay. He composed Don Giovanni in 1787 whilst in Prague.
The Music Don Giovanni is a comic opera dealing with the contemporary tensions of class and sex. Giovanni is a Spanish nobleman with an insatiable desire for sexual conquests. The scene is Seville, Giovanni arrives masked persued by Donna Anna who he has tried to seduce. Her father hears her cries and is killed in a duel by Giovanni. The music falls into a dramatic silence followed by a trio of male voices baritone and bass which combine to express the sadness and shock of the death. Ultimately Giovanni is consigned to eternal damnation in a great scene where the statue of Donna Anna’s father, the man he has murdered comes to eat with him and drags him down to the flames of hell. The music conveys a feeling of menace through the use of consistant triplets. The opera ends in an ensemble singing “Such is an evildoers end: death is the just reward for a misspent life”.
The Librato The opera is composed in Italian by Da Ponte. The libretto is based on the stories of Don Juan.
The Performers Esterházy Sinfonia Adrianne Pieczonka: Donna Anna: Soprano Bo Skovhus: Don Giovanni: Baritone Janusz Monarcha: Donna Anna’s father: Bass Ildikó Raimondi, Torsten Kerl, Regina Schorg, Renato Girolami, Daniel Boaz Hungarian Radio Choir
The conductor Michael Halász acted as the Resident Conductor of the Vienna State Opera.from 1991.
The Price Ł12.99
Availability From most good music stores and online from Amazon.com
Personal Recommendations I first heard this music at an open air performance in the grounds of Errddig Hall near Wrexham. It was a magical moment. The music was superb. This CD conveys all the magic and has a clear tone. The libretto is sung in Italian which may put people off but listen and the emotions and comedy of the music will come throiugh.
This is one of Mozarts best operas. The lyrical melody is memorable and the rthyms simple but effective.
I recently bought Amadeus on DVD (an impulse buy I must add), a film biography of Mozarts life. Not knowing the quality of the film I was pleasently surprised to find it to be of an exceptional standard. It included sections of Don Giovanni in it, would be worth watching a performance by an Opera company. Puma1000
Classical Calm 3CD(s) - Label:Emporio - Distributor:Disc Distribution - Run Time:4 hours 47 minutes - DDD - 5014797134133 This product has not yet been reviewed.
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26.06.2004 22:08
I recently bought Amadeus on DVD (an impulse buy I must add), a film biography of Mozarts life. Not knowing the quality of the film I was pleasently surprised to find it to be of an exceptional standard. It included sections of Don Giovanni in it, would be worth watching a performance by an Opera company. Puma1000
07.05.2004 14:11
I love Mozart. Great review ! Jo x
06.05.2004 23:40
I do love this type of music.