An ever-unfolding Don Giovanni set at Glyndebourne

It's a new production. It's a much loved opera at Glyndebourne. Gerald Finley sang the title role. Having seen him in lighter Mozart roles (such as Figaro) I was not entirely what to expect. He did the athletic and dashing parts of the character well, but somehow lacked the menacing quality at the darker end of the drama. Anna Samuil's Donna Anna was ok - though I did find her voice uneven in many of the arias. Anna Virovlansky was a feisty Zerlian who partnered well with Guido Loconsolo's Masetto. Alastair Miles was held up in traffic so was only able to take part in Act II.

Jakub Hrusa conducted who did a fine job. The keyboard continuo caused
too much distraction with a lot of unnecessary page turning. Jonathan
Kent's direction was good - with lots of movements in the right places.
The best part of the production was the ever unfolding, revolving and imploding set. It started off as a rotating cube. Then it opened up into Donna Anna's house. Then it turned into Don Giovanni's palatial home. Then it folded into the balcony of Donna Elvira. And so on. Very inventive and engaging for an otherwise dark stage.

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Written On Skin at the Royal Opera

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Hänsel und Gretel at the Royal Opera

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