An A-level student interested in the arts. I enjoy music, film, travel, books, and a whole lot more....
An A-level student interested in the arts. I enjoy music, film, travel, books, and a whole lot more. I intend to study languages at university and take a gap year in Canada. My mottos: "Carpe Diem" and "Always look on the bright side of life".
Member since:14.08.2005
Reviews:13
Members who trust:1
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:
Don Giovanni 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. Don Giovanni is all about an Italian Nobleman, Don Giovanni, who is a great womaniser. Consequently, Don Giovanni, has been remarked as a "light-hearted sexual promiscuity".
Life for Don Giovanni 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 Don Giovanni at his game! From that point, Don Giovanni's luck with women changes, and his life changes from a game to a daunting problem, ending in his judgement by the ghost of the Commendatore, in the greatest male trio written for opera. After demmanding Don Giovanni repents, which Don Giovanni immediately refuses, the Commendatore drags him down to hell, and revenge has been granted.
3). The Album:
This is a superb performance of the opera, and fully reflects the genius behind it. The opera contains many amusing as well as inspiring pieces of music, such as arias, where Don Giovanni's servant, Leporello, is counting out the number of Don Giovanni's conquests, great duets, which are bursting with romance such as "La ci darem la mano". However, it is trios such as the finale, which make Don Giovanni the great epic it is! "Don Giovanni, a cenar teco" (where the ghost of the Commendatore arrives and demands repentance) makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, such is the power and atmosphere of this sinister and mysterious piece of music.
The singing in this album is of huge quality. The leading singers (Eberhard Wachter, Joan Sutherland, Luigi Alva, Gottlob Frick, Elisabeth Schwartzkopf, Giuseppi Taddei, Piero Cappuccilli, Graziella Sciutti) create sumptuous leagto (smooth) lines of music as well as creating sumptous musical delights with their arias, which echo the emotion and feeling of the story with passion unmatched in any other opera recording.
Funnily anough, this is an album which can turn even the strongest of opera haters into opera lovers, as this opera has a style of music for all, from light hearted musical jokes, to deep and serious music, and is well worth a try.
The accompanying book with the CD collection, allows full understanding of the opera, and so makes the listener fully aware of the story line, even though it is being spoken in Italian! The Book itself contains a full track list, along with a list of characters involved, a detailed background to Mozart and the opera, a synopsis to the opera, allowing the understanding of the story, and a full translation of the words per track in 5 languages.
Disadvantage:
Opera is an aquired music taste, but as I have said above, many have been converted by this opera.
Summary:
An opera for all that is worth a listen containing something for all. An insight into classical and operatice music is provided which helps those who are not great opera listeners or those who don't listen at all, fully understand the music they are listening to! Literally, Don Giovanni Rocks!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Good and often outstanding performances, plus the sight of the English picnicking in dinner jackets and long dresses Disadvantages: Getting there, unless you live near Brighton; getting a ticket - you need to be persistent
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