Based on the legend of Don Juan, Don Giovanni is the story of an Italian womaniser who has slept with over a thousand Italian women alone; peasants, princesses, baronesses. In this 18th century tale of death and deception, played out to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giovanni’s only enemy it seems is the wrath of God. The language and punishments, even after so many years, still sound risqué.
The costuming is shades of grey, black; the set black marble and endlessly bleak, with a cemetery upstage. Opera Australia’s sweetheart Taryn Fiebig plays peasant girl Zerlina while Teddy Tahu Rhodes executes a smarmy, seductive Don Giovanni. Emma Matthews is a convincing manipulative noblewoman alongside the Don’s mischievous sidekick Leporello, played by Shane Lowrencev. A favourite scene would have to be Leporello prancing around the stage, jovially recounting tales from Don Giovanni’s book of conquests (it contains the names of everyone he has ever slept with).
If you like love stories, dark humour, Italian debauchery and over-the-top costuming, all of the glamour and heartache is encapsulated in the story of Don.
