The Joburg Theatre presents Mozart's Don Giovanni, featuring a top local and international cast and crew, including Gauteng Choristers, and music by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO).
The classic production, played on the iconic Mandela Stage, features Juan Burgers on piano and is conducted by one of Germany's best opera conductors, Johannes Stert.
Produced in-house by the Joburg Theatre and directed by Christoph Dammann, with Musa Nkuna as the production's artistic consultant, this spectacular opera features the most important parts of the text translated to English by Amanda Holden.
Don Giovani is a dark piece, not just in terms of the plot – most of the scenes are at night, in a dark courtyard or room. Throughout the opera, Don Giovanni, the lover who used to be successful, fails to seduce a woman. His magic no longer works, his dark, violent, and misogynistic side emerges more strongly and is a deterrent to his love life.
Don Giovanni is a comedy-drama giocoso or funny drama. Musically, it is an ingenious blend of serious and comedic opera. The title character is a dissolute young nobleman, not an older Casanova. The comedy is dark, as the voices and music are rich.
"I have been an opera lover and supporter my whole life, and this is a wonderful performance. The singers are exceptionally good and talented. With regards to the artistic merits, the opera is world-class. The music is wonderful, and, to me, it illustrates the true nature of the characters," said Peter Bosman, a member of the audience who attended the opening night recently.
The aesthetics and design of the production are inspired by the "film noir" of the 1950s, with low-key lighting, strong light-dark contrasts, and a few splashes of colour.
The recitatives in Don Giovanni, where the action is driven, are in English, while all the music with the orchestra is sung in original Italian with subtitles displayed on the big screen.
The play can be described as funny with a bit of drama. It also has a cunning mixture of serious and comical opera.
"I have seen the opera Don Giovanni before, although it was a different production company. In this one, though, it is unbelievable. I love their spectacular voices. It was wonderful to have live music play out. I was not expecting the music to be played live," said another audience member.
Don Giovani has a modern feel compared to productions performed overseas, with the outfits being fashionable.
The role of Mozart’s most incorrigible playboy, Don Giovanni, is sung by American operatic bass-baritone Kevin Short. Short’s current engagements include singing Porgy-Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
German bass-baritone Oliver Weidinger plays Don Giovanni’s trusty servant, Leporello. Weidinger is a member of the ensemble at the Theatre Regensburg in Germany.
Carla Caramujo performs the role of Donna Anna, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She recently performed Un Moto di Gioia, Mozart Concert Arias by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker with the Portuguese National Ballet (CNB) and baroque orchestra Divino Sospiro.
Musa Nkuna, who is now based in Germany, performs the role of Don Ottavio, having debuted in 2001 as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni in Switzerland. He has been a tenor with the Theatre of Pforzheim, Cologne State Opera, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Lisbon, and Mecklenburg State Theatre, Schwerin.
Njabulo Mthimkhulu lends his voice to the beleaguered Masetto. In 2015 he sang the role of Nelson Mandela at the world premiere of Juan Burgers’ Ubuntu-The Opera at the Playhouse in Durban. Mthimkhulu currently lectures in music at Nelson Mandela University.
Nokrismesi 'Kimmy' Skota plays Masetto’s fiancé, and Don Giovanni’s current obsession, Zerlina. She is a lyric soprano and is best known for her performances with the internationally acclaimed Dutch violinist Andre Rieu, which led to her performing around the world from 2010 to 2013.
Rouel Beukes sings the role of the Commendatore, father of Donna Anna and later the famous “stone guest”. Beukes is a bass-baritone and has been part of the worldwide tour of Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
"As Joburg Theatre, we are excited to have opera return to our stage and we expect our audiences to thoroughly enjoy these special performances," said Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema, the Chief Executive of the Joburg City Theatres.
Don Giovanni restores the glories of opera to the Joburg Theatre and revels in the splendour of voice, music, and drama. The performances take place from Friday, 12 August to Sunday, 21 August. Ticket costs range from R250 to R550.
Written by Muziwenhlanhla Coka
15.8.2022
