David McVicar’s electric production of Don Giovanni brings together two of this country’s biggest opera stars for the first time in an Opera Australia production – Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Don Giovanni and Emma Matthews as Donna Anna at Arts Centre Melbourne from 11 May.
“I was lucky enough to meet Emma when I got my break with Opera Australia in 1998,” said Rhodes. “Like so many, I have admired and marvelled at her performances over the years. It seems amazing that this will be the first opera we have ever performed in together and it will be a privilege to share the stage in such a thrilling production of Don Giovanni with my dear friend.”
An extreme casanova, Don Giovanni has bedded 2065 women and his servant Leporello (Shane Lowrencev) has the records to prove it! And so begins a story Mozart starts with a death, quickly moves to comedy, peppers with romance and finishes in the very unexpected.
Featuring some of Mozart’s most memorable and stirring opera music – from the comedy of Leporello’s Catalogue Aria as he lists the Don’s conquests; the sheer delight of the seductive duet Là ci darem la mano; through to the terrifying drama of the Commendatore’s Don Giovanni! A cenar teco m’invitasti.
Not accustomed to being told ‘no’, Don Giovanni seduces Donna Anna then kills her father; interrupts a peasant wedding and tries it on with the bride; and unknowingly gets his servant bashed by an angry mob trying to stop his philandering ways. And that’s all in one night! But it’s not the last time The Don will see Anna’s father and it remains to be seen if he’ll make daybreak.
For the first time in Melbourne, McVicar’s dark and sexual thriller turns the traditional Don Juan tale on its head. Against the backdrop of class struggle, McVicar places doubt on whether Don Giovanni’s advances are always welcome, and we begin to question who the hero is on stage.
With set and lighting design wizardry by Robert Jones and David Finn that will leave mouths agape and Teddy Tahu Rhodes in the role he was born to play, Don Giovanni is set to make a cool Melbourne night run hot.
Director: David McVicar Cast: Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Shane Lowrencev, Emma Matthews, John Longmuir, Jane Ede, Taryn Fiebig, Richard Anderson, Jud Arthur Conductor: Anthony Legge Set & Costume Designer: Robert Jones Lighting Designer: David Finn Choreographer: Andrew George Rehearsal Director: Matthew Barclay
Don Giovanni
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 11 – 30 May 2015
Bookings: 1300 182 183 or online at: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Teddy Tahu Rhodes in Don Giovanni – courtesy of Opera Australia