Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Bo Skovhus, Felicity Lott :: Mozart - Don Giovanni / Skovhus, Corbelli, Brewer, Hadley, Lott, Focile, Chiummo; Mackerras

A Wonderful Don Giovanni

W. Burton | NY & LA USA | 05/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Extremely happy with this recording, particularly, the conducting, which is lively and sharp-witted. The ensemble of artists too, is one of cohesion and relationships. The quality of sound is rich and performances are so good, that for a while I thought I was listening to a live performance, which is my favorite way to hear an opera.



I don't think there is a perfect Don Giovanni, but this one comes close. There are no star-turns, no sanctimony, no hyper-reverential moments, just spirited Mozart, beautifully conducted and sung with great attention to character and story."

FROM A REFORMED OPERA LISTENER

Philly Gal | Philadelphia, PA USA | 09/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 3-CD set is a FULL performance of the Mozart opera. While ashamed to admit that I never listened to Mozart's DON GIOVANNI (1787) in its entirety, I must report that this recording sent me into near rapture. After sticking to Mozart's more popular lighthearted operas for years, a disapproving friend surprised me with the gift of this recording. It has a beautiful booklet with some historical background, the important details of each scene, along with a fine commentary by Sir Charles Mackerras, and the complete libretto in Italian. That got me going...

The recording quality is fabulous. I didn't regret a single minute of the 3+ hours required to hear it all, and am left to wonder if there could possibly be a better production of it (maybe, but doubtful). This was not the first time I had heard the versatile Umberto Chiummo, and was delighted to find that he sings both the Commendatore (bass) and the peasant Masetto (a baritone part); he fills both parts admirably. Without knowing about his dual roles, you would not realize that this is only one singer because you hear the voices of two completely different characters. We have the video recording of his performance as Garibaldo in Handel's RODELINDA (Warner Music Vision, 1998) and were eager for more of him.

This version of the Don Giovanni story has both comic and tragic elements: here is the well-known libertine nobleman Don Juan of Seville, but the yarn ends with a different twist. Giovanni murders the Commandant of Seville when he is caught seducing the daughter, Donna Anna. He flees with his servant (his lookout and enabler), moves on as a hunted man to seduce one unlucky woman after another. He finally meets his fate one night at the hands of the cemetery statue of the murdered Commendatore. He jokingly invites the statue to dinner at his palace. YEP, the statue shows up at his door at dinnertime and insists that the Don must return the favor and dine with him (social rules of the upper class). Still full of himself, Giovanni agrees, takes the statue's hand, the earth opens, and he falls to his end along with the avenging statue. Now, that wasn't a great synopsis, but the wonderful booklet will compensate you generously for reading my drivel."