Don Giovanni

Canadian Opera Company production of Don Giovanni, 2015. Photo by Michael Cooper.

The Canadian Opera Company’s current production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni is a thrilling exploration of the perils of leading a decadent and devious life.

Act one opens with opera’s most famous playboy, Don Giovanni (Russell Braun), who has invaded the home of Il Commendatore (Andrea Silvestrelli) in an attempt to take advantage of his daughter, Donna Anna (Jane Archibald). As with most situations involving Don Giovanni, things escalate quickly and he ends up killing Il Commendatore in an attempt to escape.

Throughout the piece, Don Giovanni’s various conquests return to haunt him. Though he laughs it off, artfully dodging each woman’s attempt to hold him to his actions, he eventually begins to unravel. This is the story of a brilliant man who can spin a tale in an instant yet he remains unwilling to learn from his mistakes, choosing to live in a chaos of his own design. He draws all those around him into his upsidedown world where there are no rules and he lays claim to whatever he’s able to get his hands on.

Defiant to the bitter end, Braun's Don Giovani is ever charming, bringing humour to the production along with his servant Leporello (Kyle Ketelsen). Fulfilling the unofficial role of comedic narrator, Ketelsen’s presence on stage delights audiences and helps keep the piece engaging from start to finish.

Beautifully composed, Mozart’s score is rich and complex with stunning arias. Of particular note is the excellent performance of Canadian Soprano Archibald in the role of Donna Anna. Her aria in act two, "Troppo mi...Non mi dir," is stunning.

The only unfortunate shortcoming of this interpretation directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov is the inconsistent design. The production is modern but the era is unclear. Visually there is a great divide between the set and the costumes (so the costumes appear to be an afterthought). However, the set design adds a unique juxtaposition, appearing as a solid, stable backdrop to the often hectic events taking place on stage.

Also of interest is the unique treatment of the curtain. Made from a heavy material, it literally drops with each scene change— a beautifully dramatic effect.

Don Giovanni runs until February 21, 2015 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Art. A reminder to those under 30: The Canadian Opera Company offers a great Opera under 30 program. Visit coc.ca for more information and to buy tickets.