The ever fastidious and scholarly John Eliot Gardiner leaves no stone unturned as his ... more
project to record all of the mature Mozart operas with his period instrument English Baroque Soloists arrives at the dramma giocoso that is Don Giovanni. Gardiner rightly opts for the so- called "Vienna" version, the last to have been performed during the composer's lifetime, whilst via an appendix he also offers two missing arias plus a variant account of the Don and Commendatore confrontation from the earlier Prague version. No less conclusive is Gardiner's hard-driven and gritty account of the whole, in which he elicits chiaroscuro shading and sonority from an ever-alert EBS. He is also well served by a crack cast. There's a big- voiced Donna Anna from Luba Orgonasova; a crisply enunciated Donna Elvira from Charlotte Margiono, and an athletic and attractive Zerlina from Eirian James. Christoph Prégardien's staunch Don Ottavio and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo's sparring Leporello keep up the good work, leaving the stage clear for the Don himself, sung by the American baritone Rodney Gilfry. Gilfry comes over as forthright and full bodied, with a pleasing but unbooming chest voice; also he interprets the role psychologically, making for an engaging all-round showing. In fact Gardiner's entire reading engages with its questing veracity and taut ensemble from singers and orchestra alike. Finely recorded, lavishly presented, there probably isn't a better period- instrument Giovanni in the catalogue. --Duncan Hadfield
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Advantages: A nice relaxing album Disadvantages: Needs an aquired taste
1). CD Infomation:
(a) - 3 CDS (72 tracks)
(b) - Accompanying book (204 pages, commentary and background information in Italian, German, French and English)
(c) - Language of opera - Italian
(d) - Total running time, 161' 28"
2). Background to the Opera:
DonGiovanni was one of Mozarts greatest opears, and as a result is one of the most popularfor all those who have a taste for the delights opera provides. DonGiovanni is all about an Italian Nobleman, DonGiovanni, who is a great womaniser. Consequently, DonGiovanni, has been remarked as a "light-hearted sexual promiscuity".
Life for DonGiovanni is fine (a minimum of 6 girls a night!), however, after he rapes Donna Anna, and murders her father (the Commendatore) , after he challenges him to a duel once he discovers DonGiovanni at his game! From that point, Don ...
Advantages: Fun, comic, lyrical Disadvantages: Sung in italian
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 DonGiovanni in 1787 whilst in Prague.
The Music
DonGiovanni 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 ...
Advantages: good food, good wine, nice place Disadvantages: non
We have visited Prague a number of times and we just love the place the restaurant and beer are the best we have experienced and are rally cheap.
We have visited Dom Giovanni 4 times in the last 18 months and every time had a fantastic meal. Set over looking the river and Charles Bridge the views really complement the food and service.
The foundations for the success of this resurant is based on well sourced ingredients seasonal ingredients and skillfully prepared buy a chef who knows not to mess around with ingredients this good. The menu offers risottos, fresh home made raviolis,tortalines, papiadlli, veal, venison fresh fish and shell fish straight out of the tank.The service is typically Italian smartly dressed service staff with laid back attitude creating a nice calm and relaxed feel about the place.
Over all I would ...
mike1812 17.12.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Don Giovanni
